School Committee Newsletter

Last month we were thrilled to learn that our district’s application to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) was accepted. In July we will enter the Eligibility phase, the first crucial step in the several year process towards state collaboration and funding assistance for a new building. Superintendent Dr. Blake, along with the Ipswich School Committee, will continue to share updates and seek input as we move forward in this exciting journey.

In December, Dr. Blake and members of the Ipswich School Committee had the opportunity to tour the new Swampscott Elementary School, which opened in August 2024. This visit was part of our ongoing efforts to gather insights for our own future elementary school building project.

Swampscott consolidated three schools into a single “twin” school with Kindergarten through Grade 2, and Grades 3 through 4, in two separate wings; spaces such as the gym, cafetorium and library are shared in between the wings. There are approximately 735 students enrolled in total, with flexibility to accommodate up to 900 students overall. The new school has: interactive classrooms built for education in 2025 and beyond; designated areas for music and instrument lessons; adequate gym space to support student movement and physical activities; full kitchens to allow for preparation of fresh foods; as well as safety and clean energy features.

The visit provided valuable ideas and inspiration as we continue to plan for a modern, safe and efficient new Elementary School in Ipswich. An additional tour is being planned for district staff and town officials.

This month is a great time for families to talk about cybersecurity and online safety. With the increasing use of technology in education, it's more important than ever to protect personal information and recognize potential online threats. Our teachers are doing a great job of reinforcing this in the classrooms, and we encourage all families to talk about safe online practices, such as creating strong passwords, avoiding suspicious links, and understanding privacy settings on social media. To learn more and access helpful resources, please visit the National Cyber Security Alliance. Let's work together to ensure our kids stay safe and informed in the digital world.

We are excited to share that we have just begun the budget planning process for the 2025/2026 school year. The School Committee is currently in the early stages of reviewing financial needs and priorities, and is working closely with the Superintendent and administrative team. We’ve included additional time again this year for town boards and residents to review the budget, ask questions, and share feedback before it is finalized at Town Meeting in May. The draft budget will be shared in early February, and the School Committee will hold a budget hearing for the public as part of the February 27th School Committee meeting. The current budget timeline is available here.

Continue to stay up to date on district events and school committee news by following Ipswich School Committee on Facebook and Instagram.