North Andover (MA) School Committee - August 27, 2026

The North Andover (MA) School Committee held a meeting on August 27, 2026, focusing primarily on school district updates, staffing, and policy implementations. Key procurement-related discussions included a request for six additional teaching assistant positions to support special education programs at Franklin and Sergeant Elementary Schools, with an estimated cost of $186,510 funded by an increased federal IDEA grant. The committee also discussed the hiring of a 0.2 FTE nurse position at the high school, supported by a Massachusetts Department of Public Health grant, to meet student medical needs. Updates on capital improvement projects were provided, including the relocation of portables to Franklin School and ongoing work on the high school auditorium lighting, with construction bidding for the Kitridge School building scheduled for late summer 2027. The committee approved the Protect Act policy to comply with new state law regarding law enforcement access to school property, suspending rules to enact it before the school year start. Additionally, the committee approved overnight field trip requests, including a robotics team trip contingent on qualification. Negotiations updates were shared, noting that current contracts remain in effect until new agreements are reached. The meeting also included discussions on professional development, leadership retreats, and community engagement plans, with no new votes on budget allocations beyond staffing requests.