North Andover school committee hears hours of public comment on FY26 budget as community urges level-service funding

The North Andover School Committee heard more than two hours of public testimony and extended discussion on Jan. 30 as officials and residents debated three competing FY26 budget scenarios and the possibility of closing Kittredge Elementary School.

Interim Superintendent Pam Lathrop presented a recap of the FY26 budget work and the district's options, saying the school department faces a structural shortfall that must be closed before the new fiscal year. Lathrop said the district's level-service cost projection — the budget that maintains current staffing and programming — totals about $71.8 million, leaving an estimated deficit of roughly $6.9 million compared with other proposals. She told the committee that her office had prepared a level-service budget, an alternative reduced budget and a guidance budget provided by town leadership and that each carried different operational consequences for schools.

Why it matters: Parents, teachers and students said the guidance and alternative budgets would cut services that they say are essential to students' learning and social-emotional supports. Many urged the committee to transmit a level-service budget to town officials and to rally voter support for any additional revenue needed. Several speakers tied the budget choices to long-term town policy, taxation constraints and earlier municipal agreements that limit annual levy growth.

Public concerns and testimony

Dozens of residents, educators and students took the microphone during the public hearing to press for a level-service budget and to warn of the impact of cuts. Erin Harris, a parent, told the committee, “We are in an identity crisis. Are we a town who is going to accept doing the bare minimum for our children?”

Teachers and staff described how cuts would affect daily instruction and supports. Aaron Drazek, a special education teacher at North Andover Middle School, said the level-service budget "is only meeting the current needs of North Andover students" and warned that lower funding would force larger class sizes and more outplacements that could raise long-term costs. Jillian Vecchione, a first-year special-education teaching assistant, described the risk to vulnerable students if consistent staffing is lost. Student speakers said reductions to electives and extracurriculars would curtail opportunities and community life.

Several residents pressed the committee about alternative revenue sources and tactics, including use of levy capacity tied to a TIF agreement with Amazon, free cash and stabilization funds, user-fee changes (bus fees, preschool tuition, athletic fees), sponsorships and one-time capital-to-operating moves. Mr. Moskovich (school committee member) reminded the room that the town currently has roughly $5 million in unused levy capacity tied to past agreements and urged coordinated work with the select board and finance committee; he said that approach is a short-term bridge but not a permanent solution.

Committee response and next steps

Committee members and the superintendent said they would seek further talks with town leadership. Lathrop and others said the town manager and select board have been asked to meet jointly with the school committee to explore whether the community can realistically support a higher budget at town meeting and to review options that could include applying some one-time funds or maximizing levy capacity for FY26.

Lathrop added that some of the most disruptive line items identified in the guidance budget include temporary closure of Kittredge Elementary, reductions to library staff in grades 6-8, cuts to professional development and reductions to athletics and extracurriculars. She said the district has prepared logistics and stakeholder plans for several possible scenarios, including the implications of moving Kittredge students to other buildings and the MSBA process for a future Kittredge building project.

Clarifying financial details provided during the meeting

- FY25 adopted school budget: $62,064,629 (Superintendent noted utility allocations moved to town budgets in prior adjustments). - Level-service (maintain current services) FY26 projection: ~$71,784,091. - Guidance budget presented to the committee (lower baseline): approx. $64,000,858 (committee described this as deeply harmful if adopted). - Alternative reduced budget presented by administration: ~$67,604,962 (about $4.18 million in reductions from level service). - Estimated level-service deficit to close if town does not provide additional revenue: about $6,925,178 (figures presented by administration). - Special education line: administration said the alternative budget shows a roughly $100,000 reduction compared with level service; Interim Special Education Director Lynn O'Neil (present) told the committee the district can continue to meet current IEP and 504 requirements under the alternative budget, though speakers warned that other cuts could indirectly affect students with high needs.

Public process and timeline

The committee opened and recessed a public hearing on the FY26 budget during the Jan. 30 meeting; members said they will meet again with the select board and finance committee to try to reach a joint plan before finalizing what to transmit to town meeting. The committee expects to take a formal vote next week on which budget scenarios to send forward for town review and possible town-meeting action.

Votes at a glance (motions recorded during the meeting)

- Acceptance of minutes (Jan. 2 and Jan. 9): motion moved by Mr. Brown, seconded by Ms. Cormier; recorded vote: Mr. Moskovich yes; Mr. Brown yes; Ms. Cormier yes; chair yes — outcome: approved. - Acceptance of $1,000 Massachusetts Cultural Council grant (to buy diverse texts for Atkinson and Thompson libraries): motion moved by Mr. Brown, seconded by Mr. Moskovich; outcome: approved. - Motion to enter public hearing for FY26 budget: moved by Mr. Wilm, seconded by Ms. Cormier; recorded votes in roll call included Mr. Moskovich (aye), Mr. Brown (yes), Ms. Cormier (yes), chair (yes) — outcome: approved. - Motion to exit public hearing: moved by Mr. Brown, seconded by Ms. Cormier; outcome: approved. (See separate actions[] records for full motion text, movers, seconds and vote counts.)

What the committee did not decide tonight

The committee did not adopt a final FY26 budget. Members said they would present multiple scenarios to the select board and finance committee, seek a joint meeting, and then set a final position to transmit to town meeting. Committee members repeatedly said their priority is to avoid the guidance budget’s cuts and to pursue options that preserve core services for FY26.

Ending note

Speakers from across the district asked the committee to champion a level-service FY26 budget and to lead a community effort to persuade town voters; the committee agreed to press town leadership for additional revenue options and to continue the public conversation at upcoming meetings, including a joint meeting with the select board and finance committee scheduled for Feb. 13 and the committee’s next regular meeting on Feb. 6.