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Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School presents enrollment data; Methuen council flags budget follow-up
Summary
Essex Tech’s superintendent briefed the Methuen council on the regional agricultural school's enrollment, program differences and budget methodology; members asked for Methuen-specific application and enrollment counts and were warned municipal billing for out-of-district students may require a supplemental appropriation.
Officials from Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School presented to the Methuen City Council on enrollment trends, program structure and budget mechanics for regional vocational education.
Dr. Heidi Riccio, the school’s superintendent, explained Essex Tech serves roughly 1,920 students from 58 communities on a 166-acre campus with extensive agricultural facilities. The school admitted it has implemented a lottery for out-of-district admissions, which contributed to lower Methuen enrollment in certain programs—Methuen had roughly 11 students in the agricultural programs this year, down from about 21 previously.
Councilors asked for Methuen-specific admissions and application counts; Riccio said the school publishes an online admissions dashboard and committed to sending an isolated Methuen report. The city solicitor raised a budget-process question: earlier this year the city took budget votes and a specific appropriation for out-of-district students may have been rejected; because Methuen is not a member of the regional district, the city may need to take municipal action (a supplemental appropriation) to pay any November billing for students who are attending Essex Tech. The superintendent confirmed first billing runs in November and that the school will provide details to the council.
Councilors requested a follow-up report showing applications, offers, enrollments and declines from Methuen so the council can assess budget and policy implications ahead of November billing.
