School committee files placeholder articles for possible overrides and capital debt exclusion

Marblehead — The School Committee voted Jan. 9 to place three placeholder warrant articles on the town warrant: (1) a Proposition 2½ override article to raise and appropriate funds for the school operating budget contingent on a ballot question, (2) a debt‑exclusion article to allow borrowing for capital needs if approved, and (3) a general placeholder for capital appropriation language.

Committee members emphasized these articles are procedural placeholders required by town deadlines and do not lock the committee into a specific dollar figure or guarantee continued funding beyond the first fiscal year. Staff and committee members explained the mechanics: if voters approve an override, the levy limit increases for that year but ongoing allocations in subsequent years remain subject to town budgeting and town‑meeting decisions.

The committee voted these placeholder articles by roll call in open session. Members reiterated that any final override amount, ballot language and campaign decisions would be developed and approved by the committee and coordinated with the Select Board and Finance Committee before going to voters.

Committee members also described the intended schedule: draft budgets, public forums and a budget hearing are planned through February and March to inform any final warrant language. No specific dollar amounts were proposed or approved at the Jan. 9 meeting.