Ipswich School Committee Newsletter

Over the last month the Superintendent, Administrative team, and School Committee reviewed the FY25 budget for the 2024/2025 school year with the Select Board and Finance Committee. Both boards unanimously voted to support the FY25 budget, and the warrant article that will be presented at Town Meeting. The next and final step is the Town Meeting vote on May 14th. The budget can be viewed online.

On Sunday, April 14th, members of the School Committee participated in the Cape Ann Bowling Fundraiser to support the Parade Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. Funds raised will help volunteer organizers put on a parade and block party on Saturday, June 8th, for which they encourage citizens to “Join the town of Ipswich as we respect our Veterans, pay tribute to the 80th anniversary of D-Day and celebrate our community.”

We enjoyed bowling alongside community members, including the Select Board, and look forward to the June event!

Over the last few months, the School Committee, in partnership with the Superintendent, prepared a Statement of Interest (SOI) for funding assistance with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) for each elementary school. The SOIs identify the unmet needs in the schools, and the urgency of the problems. While it heavily references physical structure and facilities, the focus is the educational environment of our students and teachers.

Acceptance by the MSBA is a competitive process, as they evaluate the need and urgency of schools across the Commonwealth. We have recently learned that they also wish to understand a district’s intention when applying for funding. While the Winthrop school demonstrates the greatest need and highest urgency (and its prioritization would have allowed for the study of a consolidated school on the Doyon site), the Doyon school has now been identified as our priority during this year’s submission, to clearly support our project intention of studying a consolidated school on the Doyon site. Ideally, any consolidation will be configured in a campus style setting maintaining a small school feel. We will use the feasibility study to further refine details of the project.

The submission to the MSBA is just one step in a lengthy process. We will continue our discussions as a School Committee in the coming months, and we will await hearing back from the MSBA regarding a decision on our applications in December.

The School Committee is currently engaged in negotiations with three collective bargaining units, specifically the Ipswich Educators Association Unit A which includes teachers, the Education Support Professionals (ESP) Unit, and the Paraeducators Association. At the Unions’ request, negotiations commenced after February vacation; we have now held three in-person sessions. These sessions are attended by members of the School Committee Negotiations Subcommittee, the Unions’ bargaining representatives, the Superintendent, the Director of Finance & Operations, and the District’s and Unions’ respective labor counsel. Negotiation sessions are also observed by Union members.

The School Committee continues to be optimistic about the prospects of reaching agreement with all Units before the expiration of the current contracts this summer. Presently, three additional negotiation sessions have been scheduled for May and one for June.

• School Committee representatives participated in the March Early Childhood Info Fair, sponsored by the Ipswich Public Library.

• At our April 4th meeting, the School Committee voted on applicable Town Meeting Warrant Articles.

• The School Committee, Select Board, and Finance Committee joined at “Bean Counting” on Saturday, April 6th, as a final tri-board update and budget review ahead of the upcoming Annual Town Meeting.

• We heard from the Elementary English Language Arts Curriculum Compass Committee to learn about an upcoming transition to “Wit and Wisdom,” a new structured literacy program.

• Our Director of Technology and Digital Learning Specialist presented the annual technology plan, which includes effectively and safely incorporating artificial intelligence into our curriculum and district operations.

• Thursday, May 2nd - School Committee Meeting - 7pm in the Middle/High School Ensemble Room and online

• Tuesday, May 14th - Annual Town Meeting - 7pm at the Middle/High School

• Thursday, May 16th - STEAM Showcase - 5pm-7pm in the Middle/High School lower gym

• Thursday, May 16th - School Committee Meeting - 7pm in the Middle/High School Ensemble Room and online

• Tuesday, May 21 - Annual Town Election - 7am-8pm at the Ipswich YMCA

• Sunday, June 2nd - Ipswich High School Graduation - 10am at the High School (rain or shine)

• Tuesday, June 11th (rain date Wednesday, June 12th)- Crane Beach Picnic (Grades K - 8)

• Thursday, June 13th - Projected Last Day of School for Students

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