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Communities that wish to withdraw from sending pupils to Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School could do so after giving at least two years’ notice, and unanimous consent of other cities and towns would no longer be required.
Those are among changes the Regional Agreement Amendment Committee is considering to the 1967 agreement between the 11 communities that comprise the school population. Instead of requiring approval from every member community, the group proposes two-thirds of members could agree to a withdrawal. West Newbury Town Manager Angus G. Jennings, who serves as committee chair, said the draft agreement is on its fourth version and it is still very much an active working document.
“The goal is to have a draft ready to send to the full school committee by our July 23 meeting,” Jennings told WHAV.
Those that wish to withdraw after no less than two years notice could leave by July 1 of a given year. A community leaving would still be liable for its share of any outstanding debt and tuition costs for all pupils through the remainder of their time at Whittier Tech, Jennings noted.
The board is also discussing weighted School Committee votes, based on enrollment rather than allowing individual cities two votes each and towns a single vote each. Jennings said while the current system is popular, Newburyport has two representatives, but sends just 2.73% of the students.
“People want to make sure the composition of the School Committee is reasonably in proportion to how the money is being spent,” Jennings said. Both Pentucket Regional School District and Minuteman Regional Vocational School District use a weighted voting system, he said.
The proposed agreement would also realign the terms of School Committee to three-year terms running July 1 to June 30, rather than the current system of April 1 to March 31.
Still under discussion is how to assign capital costs, which has long been a sticking point for several communities. Currently, Haverhill pays 44% of capital costs, but will send 66% of the students next year. This is because the current capital cost apportionment formula is based on each community’s total kindergarten through grade 12 enrollment.
The Massachusetts School Building Authority has given permission to proceed with a feasibility study which would evaluate three options—renovating the current Amesbury Line Road school, replacing it at its current location or building a new school, as part of a shared campus plan, at Northern Essex Community College. The idea surfaced after all communities, but Haverhill, overwhelming voted against building a new $445 million school at the current location on. The Authority made a new agreement a condition of state support for a new school, according to a Dec. 12, 2024 signed by Executive Director Mary L Pichetti.
Besides Haverhill, the Whittier Tech members are Amesbury, Georgetown, Groveland, Ipswich, Merrimac, Newbury, Newburyport, Rowley, Salisbury and West Newbury.
The Regional Agreement Amendment Committee meets Thursday, June 25, at 10 a.m., in room 106 of the Behrakis Student Center at Northern Essex Community College, 100 Elliott St., Haverhill.