School Committee Meeting

The meeting opened with recognitions for the Amesbury High School class of 2026 valedictorian Haley Jasowski (recipient of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents Certificate of Academic Excellence) and salutatorian Noah Bluen (principal’s award). The Student Advisory Council presented highlights from its year — ongoing menstrual-product stocking in nearly all schools, donation-based bake sales (next scheduled May 16), a Halloween bash, activity fair efforts, advocacy on cafeteria food variety and waste/composting, and planned work on AI use and phone-policy research — and responded to school committee questions about outreach and future priorities.

In reports and discussion the superintendent reviewed current and upcoming staffing openings across the district and detailed the Shea elementary principal search process: three finalists with site visits scheduled and a community forum this week (questions accepted in advance). The committee received an update on the regionalization feasibility study (consultant still analyzing data; report expected end of May/beginning of June) and heard that Amesbury High School’s decennial NEASC accreditation was confirmed, with commendations for community and progress on priority areas (vision of the graduate, curriculum hub, and technology improvements). CPAC reported on ESY, its work around alternatives to timeout/seclusion, recommended strengthening Tier 1–3 supports and trauma-informed frameworks, and noted CPAC elections on June 17. The committee unanimously approved a slate of subcommittee appointments so workgroups can resume. There were no public comments submitted during the meeting.