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