PLATFORM
The Andover School Committee is at a crossroads. We have major initiatives that need to be completed and a change to impact for our community.
Priorities for Andover School Committee
Budget Deficit and Financial Planning
The largest issue facing the committee again is the budget. The FY27 budget process is under way. We are again faced with over $1.3M gap to balance the budget. The administration has done a good job providing transparency with the advisory council and 2025 road show. Because of their work, the deficit is not a surprise. While attrition and reallocating staff can help close this gap, we need to get ahead of the future.
Now is the time to plan for the upcoming years. We need to
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Work with the administration to understand potential staffing needs for the future. We cannot continue to rely on attrition. Cutting staff will lead to other cuts later.
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Work with the town on the long range plan. APS currently has a 3.75% increase in budget per year. The town wants to change this. We need to work together to ensure our schools have the staff and resources to excel.
Hiring a New Superintendent
One of the most import responsibilities on the School Committee is hiring and overseeing Andover's superintendent of schools. I have been on search committees for superintendents and principals in the past. We need a superintendent with the experience to take Andover Schools to the next level. This includes
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Experience with a diverse community
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Knowledgeable on current curricula and experience with implementation.
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Working with MSBA or similar on new building projects
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A solid track record of recruiting and retaining faculty and staff
The process needs to be open and collaborative. I expect this process to include community outreach, including faculty, staff, parents, and the broader Andover community.
I look forward to help set the direction of Andover Schools for the future.
Andover High School
We need a multi-year plan for AHS. The school teachers and administration are top notch. The current students and alumni's success is proof of that. This has been done in an aging structure that is over crowded, under-sized classrooms, not ADA compliant, end of life mechanical systems and the list goes on. We need a short term and a long term plan.
In November of 2023, Article 7B appropriated $500k to investigate an interim approach. We need to finalize this plan as soon as possible. We need a plan that includes firm costs, timing, and most importantly, the educational impact. We cannot just throw money at a temporary solution without know what we get.
The long term plan should include replacing the building. The AHS Building Project has evaluated additions, renovation, and new building. The conclusion is that we need a new building. The window to apply for state aid opens now. We need to submit a Statement of Interest if we want to get support. We should be doing this in parallel to an interim approach.
Execution and Transition
While the new superintendent search, budget, and high school are hot issues, we need to complete the work in process. This includes executing on the redistricting project, continuing the implementation of the ELA curriculum, and ensuring a smooth transition to the new superintendent. My experience on the budget advisory council and redistricting advisory council give me the right qualifications to support these efforts.