[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6292493,"mediaKeyId","2526277-49c18b3ba5d13db11bbd215176386c5b","parentId",2526277,"title","Public voices: North Andover parents, teachers protest proposed FY26 cuts as superintendent outlines $68.2 million scenario","audioSeconds",2709,"startMs",651000,"endMs",3360000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2526277-49c18b3ba5d13db11bbd215176386c5b&start=651&end=3360","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2526277-49c18b3ba5d13db11bbd215176386c5b/thumbnail_651000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6292493/Massachusetts/Public-voices-North-Andover-parents-teachers-protest-proposed-FY26-cuts-as-superintendent-outlines-682-million-scenario","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6292493-e626e0c77b2856dc7fc8d64b23242eee/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197769&Signature=N2~Z3-2Sfl~7IGVvPJNZ-LH0cuF4s4WR0J1BceuC2TAKWc63mr5rhvjp3tHA3Q3RAD0JwDzqXdPsCZ7J90lwwa~c0eQ0nZ3IJmK-WaP~xAxZKhcumPUVw0PY1e5EJhCpfr5mkdQ6j-YTnosmjuda996vtdpFNZ105NjQ2og~-ZpFUhwSP6bXjr0232VtCflhj7PLFstHzApccpUjc5tXLGGcT7GYQJ~hUSYl~nk4QC-9gAucIPbQ~Qoc-qy3cBknTNrjiebcakKhJ1RUY-wNjVYi9IDIJzNbXIcYxpoJ9mWMq26W-vl0xQPFV~MfQE6XGTBfYIaiXuiX-7-tcFn1tA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Andover Public Schools, MA","date","2025-03-07T04:34:11Z","article","At its March meeting the North Andover School Committee heard dozens of residents and staff oppose proposed reductions that would be required under a $68.2 million FY26 scenario presented by Superintendent Lathrop.

The meeting featured more than a dozen public commenters, including teachers, parents and the president of the North Andover Teachers Association, who urged the committee to adopt a level-services budget or provide a clearer multi-year plan instead of the cuts under consideration.

Many speakers singled out possible school closures and staff reductions. Tony Delmonico, a teacher, told the committee, “We are not, have not committed enough to our schools,” and criticized the committee for moving toward a budget level he said would further undermine classroom support. Shannon Gateley, a parent, asked, “What is the plan if the debt exclusion doesn't pass?” and pressed for clearer answers about which services — especially special education — could be cut.

Superintendent Lathrop walked the committee through a set of potential reductions intended to reach the $68.2 million target. She described the figures on a slide deck and said the $68.2 million scenario adds cuts on top of earlier reductions considered for a $69.1 million option. “In the purple budget, we did not make cuts to special education. But this is not the purple budget,” Lathrop said, noting that the district revisited every cost center to find additional savings.

The presentation listed program-level changes under discussion: additional reductions at the elementary and middle levels that could amount to roughly three teachers or six teaching assistants at elementary and middle schools; similar potential cuts at the high school; material-and-supply reductions (examples shown: $10,000 at elementary adoption funds, $12,000 at middle school materials); and further reductions in athletics ($20,000), technology summer help ($30,000), and high-school materials ($40,000). Lathrop also said that special education reductions were being considered only where administrators judge students’ needs could still be met, and she noted several anticipated personnel changes would come through attrition.

Multiple commenters warned that cuts to special education, counseling and intervention programs already reduce supports students rely on. Juliet Darmond, president of the North Andover Teachers Association and a teacher in the district, provided a list of positions she said have already been lost this year, including elementary math coaches, a literacy coach, part-time high school positions, a portion of the middle-school focus program and 17 teaching assistants districtwide.

Committee members and the superintendent emphasized the contingency arrangements that affect how positions would be reduced. Lathrop repeatedly cautioned that the scenario is not “written in stone” and said administrators would balance reductions with contractual bumping rights, retirements and other personnel movements. “When we're making these cuts, you will have to make some determination ... teachers with nonprofessional teaching status would be teachers that we're looking at first,” she told the committee.

Several speakers pressed the committee on transparency and communication. Nadia Chinchilla and Erin Harris asked why the district had not circulated the same detailed budget communications they said other nearby districts provide, and urged the committee to present a clear “plan” — including what additional funding would enable — rather than only the minimums.

Members of the public repeatedly referenced the Kittredge School closure discussion and the Kittredge School Building Committee’s ongoing work; some commenters said they believed the town has the funds to sustain level services if the committee and Select Board pursue different budgeting options.

Committee members said they will continue work with administrators to refine the scenario, and noted some reductions could be absorbed through attrition if staff choose to retire or resign. Members also discussed forming a small liaison team with the new interim finance support to develop clearer budget reporting and to bring recommendations back to the full committee.

The committee did not vote on a final FY26 operating budget at the meeting. Members directed administrators to continue developing options and to work with the district’s financial support to prepare clearer cost-center reporting for future meetings.

Ending: The budget scenario presented will go back to administrators for further refinement; the committee urged additional community engagement and pledged to return with firmer recommendations ahead of town meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","North Andover (MA) School Committee - March 06, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its March meeting the North Andover School Committee heard dozens of residents and staff oppose proposed reductions that would be required under a $68.2 million FY26 scenario presented by Superintendent Lathrop.","taxTitle","North Andover Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",71054,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6292479,"District proposes fewer early-release days, opens high-school principal search and confirms kindergarten screening plan",0,5781000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2526277-49c18b3ba5d13db11bbd215176386c5b&start=5781&end=5781","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2526277-49c18b3ba5d13db11bbd215176386c5b/thumbnail_5781000.jpg","/articles/6292479/Massachusetts/District-proposes-fewer-early-release-days-opens-high-school-principal-search-and-confirms-kindergarten-screening-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6292479-b9d43865ffd0cff2b9496ee753ec652a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197769&Signature=GUl39GBK~2W~bukvIFYEAexx6cltMx-PiqpEHZeIUKxgR77HdX21Vf4jGO4ghA5axZHQaX0PK9P76Rj2yM57NoGicEWHO6n0pbPyQfsV26ehRVfRwNQWJLzIBEQbdSUFErc8dLU67Urx5tWsfuykqp7rrFVM8ieh9TnW59HHHxHRi88-IxzhxGFxee4pU~6X9NFRhOFBrQgPhtSkJzfLdy2qudKh3eh8Ii3eFpsVV9WzLXUY7UZV98wWYL7uM5y9FJxIOwaDE3vsVjTJ6oS0X-fgQyh4nc-W9LtqjbxrE5SsmNANqcVtsDldVnnrdI3-k~Qu17mgijRnokGBI3Ux9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District administrators presented several operational updates at the March meeting: a plan to reduce early-release days, a timeline for the North Andover High School principal search, and the schedule for kindergarten screening at ABECC.

Early release: Assistant superintendent Ando (presenting) and committee members said the district has held 18 early-release days for the past three years but is considering a change to 10 early-release days with earlier dismissal times. Administrators said the change would preserve family predictability while creating longer blocks for staff professional development. \"We feel like it's a decent compromise where we're having a little bit more time with our teachers, but not putting as much strain on families,\" the presenter said. Committee members noted feedback from parents and staff has been mixed and recommended piloting the change before final adoption.

High-school principal search: The committee reviewed the search timeline for the North Andover High School principal position. The district said it has solicited volunteers for the interview committee (three administrators, four high-school faculty, two students, two parents/community members and one school committee member), posted the position, and plans to close the posting March 21 with finalist interviews and a hoped-for appointment by April 17.

Kindergarten screening (ABECC): Administrators explained the district screens incoming kindergarten students before school ends; the proposal is to schedule screenings for kindergarten students two days before grades 1–12 end school, to allow staff time to complete the child-find screenings. The committee agreed the calendar will reflect that difference going forward and that families will be notified.

Ending: The committee asked staff to continue stakeholder outreach on the early-release proposal; the principal search and kindergarten-screening plan will proceed on the schedule presented.","District leaders proposed cutting early-release days from 18 to 10 with earlier dismissal times to create longer professional-development blocks; the committee also confirmed a timeline for the North Andover High School principal search and said kindergarten screenings will be run two days before the end of school for grades 1–12 at ABECC.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6292484,"Kittredge building committee narrows options; survey responses due ahead of MSBA PSR submission",2576,3131000,5707000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2526277-49c18b3ba5d13db11bbd215176386c5b&start=3131&end=5707","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2526277-49c18b3ba5d13db11bbd215176386c5b/thumbnail_3131000.jpg","/articles/6292484/Massachusetts/Kittredge-building-committee-narrows-options-survey-responses-due-ahead-of-MSBA-PSR-submission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6292484-fc6ea28a0480fb8c225a64a35f21cb13/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197769&Signature=NyvUZ8y8MLCznMDHGeQF4sU-C6sY-62jh5v3FOX50fBz3AzDF4NL~vDQtOyZ2LG2unDyDygSmLFyakknigPKR-roYGACiE3C47v10mJ4n-XFcmteNULGzSmaM-oLEOZWYlQWu37n9yYxDb0cpK5pB9BYCHBJyxR2-olm~D5qwQGZ6F-6-Au~ArGHYmHxOi99GF5IHrdwxl5Q1yFCGvRT8PnzmOfTPt7JPM71fFEqWtYfwwDR9g9l3-DFAgLyCFfudU~9fUASSY~hmKSyVj4R51fT0WLhtJCMiUMUuO6OpYFlf-wFf7cKM1m1OeDeBn9rYT6VivWfD81qYOmjDJ~-wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Members of the Kittredge School Building Committee told the School Committee that three build options remain under consideration and that community feedback is being solicited through a district survey.

Superintendent Lathrop summarized the schedule discussed by the building committee: committee members will rank the three alternatives, and the Kittredge subcommittee will meet to select a preferred alternative by March 25. The preferred option will feed into the draft Preliminary Schematic Review (PSR) to be finalized for submission to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) on May 1. The MSBA board is expected to act on the submission in a May 14 or May 21 meeting; if approved, the district would proceed to design phases. The committee reminded residents that any local borrowing to support construction would need town-meeting approval, likely at a May town meeting in 2026.

Committee members described the three remaining options as mostly viable and noted two of them met their priorities; one member said he found two options to be \"pretty good\" and the other less preferable but workable. Committee members emphasized the new building would include community-use spaces subject to standard permitting.

Members encouraged residents to complete the online survey and said they will analyze the results and return with recommended next steps to the building committee and the School Committee.

Ending: The building committee plans a subcommittee meeting March 25 to select a preferred alternative and to prepare the PSR for MSBA submission on May 1; community survey results will inform the choice.","The Kittredge School Building Committee will rank alternatives this month and aims to submit a Preliminary Schematic Review (PSR) to the Massachusetts School Building Authority by May 1; the committee expects a state decision in mid-May and town borrowing approval at May town meeting.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":79,"_43":102,"_45":102,"_47":103,"_49":104,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6292488,"School committee approves minutes and accepts $4,000 Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners grant",249000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2526277-49c18b3ba5d13db11bbd215176386c5b&start=249&end=249","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2526277-49c18b3ba5d13db11bbd215176386c5b/thumbnail_249000.jpg","/articles/6292488/Massachusetts/School-committee-approves-minutes-and-accepts-4000-Massachusetts-Board-of-Library-Commissioners-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6292488-4a7eee211651e42a7e0da641a200eb13/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197769&Signature=Lgf28NiyWZHoTLHIkQk~2QqdRqPGVZJ7bI8t9tz6KFdagy9ENHOiM-tp0UljNNjzt-QrdIf7tLzgHgrhT5w0V1FKLXKy7pzRCJSxP8XrZw0SR8b86yhY~F-MROwKVHQ~5XcErSrH~Y2kRtX0gOoOw-sKwtDop5UI64YBgcGZHkU1M2ubBkF6XGRG9Rjg18UtMnGTNVDnBy2KRfWr4CWiQA17okX~viPcRoQQU~UzaFK8TDGvJIunHN9nhIn9RUlRnGHoXmb7YMNaqC-EIgGmwA0Kx4xi2TLW7Vj28-dC1mTh4LGJcAKMBsh8IgT5vYP48vfAZkwn5-0M-S8umpnuaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The North Andover School Committee approved multiple items on the consent agenda and accepted a small library grant during its March meeting.

The committee voted to approve minutes for the Jan. 21, Feb. 6 and Feb. 13 meetings and separately approved the Jan. 30 minutes as amended to correct typographical errors. The roll call for the first approval recorded Mr. Moskovich, Mr. Brown and Ms. Cormier voting yes; the chair also stated her affirmative vote.

The committee also accepted an Explore grant from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners in the amount of $4,000. District staff said the grant will be used to purchase books for the elementary-school libraries, including books in languages represented in the student body. The committee thanked district librarians for the effort required to apply for and secure the award.

Votes at the meeting on these consent items were recorded as unanimous among the members present for each motion.

Ending: The accepted grant will be used to expand elementary library collections; the corrected minutes will be distributed in amended form.","The North Andover School Committee approved meeting minutes for several recent sessions, amended the Jan. 30 minutes for typographical fixes, and accepted a $4,000 Explore grant to buy books for elementary libraries.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public voices: North Andover parents, teachers protest proposed FY26 cuts as superintendent outlines $68.2 million scenario

District proposes fewer early-release days, opens high-school principal search and confirms kindergarten screening plan

Kittredge building committee narrows options; survey responses due ahead of MSBA PSR submission

School committee approves minutes and accepts $4,000 Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners grant