Superintendent’s Report to the School Committee, 9/10/25

Welcome Back!

We’ve had a great opening to the 2025-2026 school year. Teachers returned to work on Monday, August 25. They participated in our all-district meeting, met with their principals and department heads, and had time to complete annual required trainings and set up their classrooms.

On Tuesday, August 26, we welcomed our incoming 7th and 9th grade students for orientation. Ninth grade student orientation is led by our Peer Leaders, who are upper grade students trained to help ninth graders with the transition to high school. Peer leaders are assigned a small group of ninth grade students to meet with throughout the school year. Thanks to High School Teacher Mike Kelsen for coordinating our peer leader program.

At the Middle School, 7th grade students begin the process of transitioning from students from their hometown elementary schools to becoming Masconomet students. The 7th grade began their orientation by meeting with their M-Block class to learn about school policies. They then participated in a scavenger hunt designed to teach them the building’s layout and then in a “Poison River” team building game. The 7th grade ended the day assembling toiletry kits that were donated and received a swag bag for themselves courtesy of the Masconomet Parent Activities Committee (PAC).

All students officially began the school year on Wednesday, August 27, where all classes met in a modified half-day schedule. On Thursday, August 28, we ran a “Monday” schedule to make up for the Labor Day Holiday. After returning from the long weekend, the High School held its Back to School Night on Thursday, September 4. Our opening of school activities will conclude on Thursday, September 11 with the Middle School’s Back to School Night at 6:00 PM.

Masconomet September 11 Memorial

Thanks to the members of the Boxford, Middleton, and Topsfield Fire Departments, student government representatives and High School Principal Katie DiNardo for giving their time yesterday afternoon to set up Masconomet’s September 11th Memorial on the front lawn of the school. The memorial was originally coordinated by Masconomet students Cole O’Malley, Nate Hopper and Olivia O’Malley (no relation to Cole) in 2006.  For the past 19 years, the Flag Memorial has continued as an annual tradition at Masconomet to remember those killed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Both the Middle and High Schools will also be observing a moment of silence to commemorate the day.

Parent Communications Guide

Masconomet always seeks to promote good communication – with parents, the Towns, and within and among the schools themselves. To this end, our Executive Leadership Team has developed a Problem–Solver and Communications Guide, which is intended to help us foster effective communication through putting members of the community in touch with the best person to answer their specific question.  The guide can also be accessed from the front page of the Masconomet Website under the “About Our District” heading.

The Problem–Solver and Communications Guide provides parents and community members with the appropriate contacts at Masconomet for a number of common issues, such as academics, attendance, student records and special education/student services.  Because problems and concerns are best addressed at the source, we suggest that parents should always begin at this step.  For example, the chain of communication for a concern about a grade on an assignment would be to begin with the teacher who assigned the grade, then to the appropriate Department Head, and then to the Principal or Assistant Principal. If the concern is not resolved, the last step in this process would be the Superintendent.  If you have a question about a topic that is not listed on the Problem–Solver and Communications Guide, the best place to start is the main office of either the Middle or High Schools where our administrative assistants will then direct you to the appropriate person in the District.

Capital Plan Updates:

HVAC and Roof Replacement Project: In March of 2025, the School Committee approved the submission of Statements of Interest with the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s Accelerated Repair Programs to replace our current HVAC system with heat pumps and replace the roof. One Statement of Interest was submitted for the high school and one for the middle school. Asst. Superintendent Jeff Sands, HVAC Technician Keith Starosciak and I participated in a conference call with the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) on July 28 and the three of us hosted a team from MSBA to conduct a site visit at Masconomet on August 21st. 

The MSBA expects to issue invitations to school districts to participate in the Schematic Design Phase of the Accelerated Repair Project at the end of October. There are 96 applications before the MSBA in this round of funding. Because of the large number of applications, they will be staggering the commencement dates for districts that have been invited into the Schematic Design phase.  If we are invited, this could allow us to potentially seek approval to borrow funds for designer and owner’s-project manager services at next May’s annual town meetings.  If we are not invited to participate in this round of funding, the next window for submitting an application will be in the spring of 2027.

Electrification Study: In May of 2025, Boxford, Middleton and Topsfield Town Meetings approved the funding for Masconomet to conduct a study on the feasibility of electrifying our building HVAC systems. Jeff Sands and Keith Starosciak kicked off this project this week by hosting a team from CMTA. The current plan is for CMTA to issue a draft report in early January.

Track and Softball Renovation Project: Boxford, Topsfield and Middleton Town Meetings also approved the funding for a study to re-design our softball facilities and replace the track Bunker Stadium. On August 20, Asst. Superintendent Sands, Athletic Director Daileanes and I hosted a design team from Vision Sports Design to kick-off this project. Vision Sports Design plans to have draft designs and costs estimates to us by the end of October.

Press Box Lift Replacement: Last fall, the Boxford Building Inspector closed the second floor of the press box at Bunker Stadium because the lift to the second floor was not functioning. Last May, Boxford, Middleton and Topsfield Town Meetings approved the funding to replace the lift. This August, temporary scaffolding was installed that includes public address and scoreboard controls, and space for football coaches. This will allow athletic games to be held at the Bunker Stadium this fall. The press box lift is scheduled to be replaced in spring of 2026.

Turf Field Project: The turf field project application for a permit is still before the Boxford Conservation Commission. On August 13, the District’s project designer, Stantec, submitted its response to comments from the Boxford Conservation Commission’s peer review firm, Williams and Sparges. Stantec received a response to these comments on September 2 and is currently working on a response to this review. This response should be ready in time for the Boxford Conservation Commission’s next meeting on September 18.

On September 4, I was notified by Ross Povenmire, the Boxford Conservation Agent, that the $18,000 District had paid for Williams and Sparges peer review services had run out and that we are now $5500 in arrears. Mr. Povenmire also informed me that Williams and Sparges anticipates an additional $2000 will be needed to complete the peer review work. This is the first update we’ve received relative to the cost of the peer review since the District paid the initial $18,000 in February of 2025. The School Committee has appropriated the additional funding so our permit application may continue.

Parent Coffees

This year, we will again be hosting as series of parent coffees on Friday mornings at 8:30 AM. These coffees are an opportunity for members of the public to meet with school principals, members of the District Administrative Team and me to ask questions and discuss issues that concern the Masconomet District. Our Parent Coffees this month will be held in the High School on September 19 and in the Middle School on September 26 from 8:30 to 9:30 AM.

Please click here for the list of Principal’s Coffee Dates for the 2025-2026 School Year.

Superintendent’s Contract

Two weeks ago, I informed the Masconomet School Committee that I do not want to renew my contract as Superintendent of the Masconomet Regional School District after my current contract expires on June 30, 2026.  After six years, it has become clear to me that my professional goals and the goals of the Masconomet District are not aligned.  I will continue to work with everyone within the district to support students, faculty and community members through this school year.