Public Schools
MARTHA’S VINEYARD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION
4 Pine Street
RR 2, BOX 261
Vineyard Haven, 02568
508.693.2007; Fax: 508.693.3190
Superintendent of Schools – Dr. James H. Weiss
Assistant Supt. for Curriculum & Instruction – Dr. Margaret T. Harris
Director of Student Support Services – Daniel T. Seklecki
Assistant to the Superintendent for Business Affairs – Amelia C. Tierney
Financial Administrative Assistants – Donna Michalski, Janet Sylvia
Administrative Secretary – Edith Rousseau
Business Secretaries – Jocelyn Broadley, Michelle Gosson, Besty MacPherson
Treasurer – Marylee Schroeder
Grant Administrator – Patricia Ingalls
Receptionist/Clerk – Amanda Carter
Special Education Secretary – Kym Cyr
Special Services
Title 1 Coordinator – Sue Costello
Early Childhood Coordinator/Consultant – Ann Palches
Occupational Therapists – Barbara Lindley, Melissa Mahoney
School Psychologists – Susan Heckler-Smith, Martha Mulcahy, Lorraine Wells
Speech Pathologists – Joanne Colley, Martha Hudson, Gail Shufrin, Linda Zarro
Autism Specialist – Hope MacLeod
ELL Director – Deb Hart
There are five public elementary schools and a regional high school on the Vineyard, administered through the office of the Superintendent of Schools. Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, and West Tisbury schools serve students K-8. The Chilmark school serves students in grades K-5. Chilmark students in grades 6-8 attend the West Tisbury School. Aquinnah students K-8 attend Chilmark and West Tisbury Schools. Aquinnah, Chilmark, and West Tisbury are members of the Up-Island Regional School District. Additionally, the Martha’s Vineyard Public Charter School (administered independently) serves grades K-12. A number of private preschools and an active homeschooling network also serve the educational needs of the Island.
Chapter 766 provides for the educational needs of children with special needs. The school system provides for every child, regardless of handicap, between the ages of 3 and 22. The law requires parental involvement and a network of services including that of a school psychologist, occupational therapist, and psychiatric and nursing services under the direction of a special education administrator. The school system also operates a special needs preschool, Project Headway.
The vocational education program teaches skills to students who have chosen careers while still in high school. Vocational majors are offered in horticulture, culinary arts, automotive and marine mechanics, and the building trades.
Edgartown School
RR1, Box 6, West Tisbury Road
Edgartown 02539
Principal: Ed Jerome
508.627.3316
Chilmark School
8 State Road, PO Box 60
Chilmark 02535
Principal: Diane Gandy
508.645.2562
Oak Bluffs School
1 Tradewinds Rd., PO Box 1325
Oak Bluffs 02557
Principal: Laury Binney
508.693.0951
Tisbury School
40 W. William St., PO Box 878
Vineyard Haven 02568
Principal: Maureen DeLoach
508.696.6500
West Tisbury School
Old County Road, Box 250
West Tisbury 02575
Principal: Michael Halt
508.696.7738
MV Regional High School
Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Rd., PO Box 1385
Oak Bluffs 02557
Principal: Peg Regan
508.693.1033, ext. 111
Project Headway (Preschool)
RR2, Box 261
Vineyard Haven 02568
Head Teacher: Jennifer DeSelm
508.696.7781
The Island has six school committees: one for each of the elementary districts of Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, and the Up-Island Regional School District; the Regional High School District Committee; and the All-Island School Committee.
Town school committees consist of three members elected for three-year terms and serve as governing bodies for elementary education in their towns. The Up-Island Regional District Committee has five members: one from each town, plus two at large. They are elected in November to serve for four years.
The Regional High School Committee has nine members appointed from the town and Up-Island Regional District committees. Working closely with the school principal, committee members set policy and deal with matters concerning school finance and contracts.
The All-Island School Committee is composed of all the members of the town and Up-Island Regional District committees. This committee hires the superintendent and oversees shared programs that serve all Island schools.
