School committee approves school improvement plans; Haverhill High Program of Studies presented with curriculum changes

The Haverhill School Committee approved school improvement plans for district schools after members reviewed the plans and offered feedback on alignment with district strategic priorities — especially literacy, family engagement and college-and-career readiness.

Committee members praised the work of site councils, principals and families in producing the plans but asked that future cycles make the alignment with the committee’s strategic priorities more explicit. Several members urged that elementary plans include a clear, standalone literacy goal and that middle and high school plans emphasize career and college readiness. The superintendent noted many plans were drafted before the committee’s strategic priorities were adopted and that some plans are multi-year documents; she said staff would incorporate the committee’s feedback in subsequent cycles.

In a separate presentation, Megan Aruvela, head of guidance, introduced the Haverhill High School 2025–26 Program of Studies. The committee heard a summary of course additions and deletions and other changes: additions include AP Seminar and AP Research, AP African American Studies, expanded Portuguese offerings, full‑year Environmental Science, a sports-officiating course tied to certification, and changes to fine-arts course levels and integrated science/mathematics offerings. Several classes were removed (for example, meteorology, physical science and history of film) and some courses were reclassified; full details will be posted on the district website. Committee members asked for more clarity on counseling and mental-health supports referenced in the program of studies; the administration said counseling content in the Program of Studies focuses on academics and that mental-health supports are provided through guidance and school adjustment counselors.

The committee approved the school improvement plans by motion and roll-call vote.