North Andover committee votes to appoint Lynn O'Neil as director of special education

The North Andover School Committee voted unanimously Sept. 25 to appoint Lynn O'Neil as the district's director of special education and to offer her a two‑year contract. The appointment followed a discussion in executive session and a public motion to accept Superintendent Pam Lathrop's recommendation.

Superintendent Pam Lathrop told the committee that O'Neil had served as interim director and had led initiatives over the past year, including partnerships with local organizations, summer program work to get LAUNCH running and collaboration across central office and building leaders. Lathrop said O'Neil had “forged relationships with students, staff, families and community members” and recommended the two‑year appointment. Committee members then moved and seconded the recommendation and voted 5–0 in favor. The chairs of the district's Community Partnership Advisory Council (CPAC) had sent a letter of support that the superintendent noted during discussion.

O'Neil spoke briefly after the vote and said she was grateful for the committee's confidence and looked forward to continuing the work she began as interim director. The committee recorded a formal roll-call vote in which members Moskovich, Sams (Hammes), Brown, Cormier and the chair voted yes.

The committee recorded no additional conditions or amendments to the appointment in the public minutes. Implementation details such as start date, salary and contract execution were not presented in the public discussion and were not specified in the meeting record.