School committee approves closing preK–8 schools March 31 for special election

MALDEN — The Malden School Committee voted March 2 to adopt the superintendent’s recommendation to close all preK–8 schools on March 31, the date of a city special election, citing building access, logistics and safety concerns at six polling sites.

Superintendent Sipple said six of the district’s seven school buildings are designated polling places and that in several schools public access would require movement through main lobbies or cafeterias used by students. The district consulted principals, police and MEA leadership and said the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education advised the district could close schools for this purpose and make up the instructional day as with an emergency closure.

Under the superintendent’s recommendation, the district would use one of its five built‑in emergency closure days; principals and the superintendent noted logistical challenges (cafeteria access, food service, ingress/egress) that would have made on‑site voting difficult without significant reconfiguration and additional staffing.

The board voted in favor of the recommendation (recorded in the transcript as passing '53'). The superintendent said he will seek a waiver for Salemwood (which previously had an emergency closure for a power outage) so that the school’s calendar aligns with the rest of the district; if a waiver is not granted Salemwood could be required to add an extra session to meet state minutes requirements.

Members said they were disappointed they had not been consulted earlier in the city council’s scheduling process but acknowledged the operational and safety concerns. The committee directed administration to pursue any necessary waivers and to communicate with families about the adjustment and make-up day.