Northern Essex and Whittier explore shared campus model for vocational education

An ambitious collaboration between Northern Essex Community College and Whittier Technical High School is taking shape, as discussed in the Newburyport School Committee meeting on April 29, 2025. The committee is exploring a shared campus model that could revolutionize vocational education in the region.

The initiative stems from a task force involving 11 communities, which has been examining the regional agreement for educational collaboration. While Haverhill expressed reluctance to modify the existing agreement, the partnership between Northern Essex and Whittier is gaining momentum. The two institutions are working with the Donahue Institute to develop potential models for this shared campus concept.

Key proposals include utilizing land at Northern Essex for Whittier to build facilities, sharing administrative and maintenance responsibilities, and possibly integrating classroom spaces for joint programs. The discussions have also considered the creation of a completely new school, and even a groundbreaking merger of the two schools to provide a continuous pathway for vocational education through community college.

The committee plans to keep this topic on the agenda for future meetings, as more information and visual presentations are expected to clarify the proposed models. The collaboration is particularly timely, given recent setbacks in funding for the Whittier school project, which was voted down by over 80% of the community. The shared campus model aims to secure state support and funding, ensuring that both institutions can continue to serve their students effectively.

As this initiative progresses, it holds the potential to reshape vocational education in the area, fostering greater collaboration and resource sharing between institutions. The next meeting will provide further insights into the developments of this promising partnership.