Education

All But One Whittier Tech Community Cross Fingers Hoping State Considers Shared Campus

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Ten of the 11 communities that send students to Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School last week pledged to support a possible shared campus between the school and Northern Essex Community College. The Memorandum of Understanding was developed by Northern Essex President Lane A. Glenn and Whittier Tech Superintendent Maureen Lynch in time for a meeting of the Massachusetts School Building Authority next month where members will consider letting a new building proposal in the pipeline. Only one of the sending communities, Rowley, withheld its support. All others—Amesbury, Georgetown, Groveland, Haverhill, Ipswich, Newbury, Newburyport, Merrimac, Salisbury and West Newbury—agreed to support a working group that would attempt to reach a consensus to approve, build and pay for a replacement for the 50-year-old Haverhill building. Members of the Rowley Board of Selectmen Monday criticized the plan, with board Chairwoman Christine A. Kneeland and board Vice Chair Sheri David identifying several concerns, including the timeline.

Haverhill

Haverhill Fire Chief Urges Fire Safety Amid Red Flag Warning, Drought

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Amid brush fires that have impacted the state and red flag warnings that have been issued in the region, city Fire Chief Robert M. O’Brien urged residents this week to adhere to fire safety requirements during an unseasonably dry autumn. As WHAV reported in October, three back-to-back fires within two and a half hours kept city firefighters busy—fires that were later said to have been preventable. During a presentation to city councilors, O’Brien referenced the three Oct. 27 fires, as well as a Nov. 9 fire, all caused by “careless disposal of smoking materials” and illegal burning.

Haverhill

Haverhill Property Taxes Set to Increase for Residents, Businesses; Council Leaves Ratios the Same

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The average single-family homeowner can expect to pay approximately $365 more in property taxes annually as city councilors Tuesday voted 6-4 to maintain the current split of residential property taxes and those of commercial properties which pay 65% more. Though the Council opted to retain the current split rate, taxes will increase for both homeowners and businesses on average, as residential values outpaced commercial and industrial property values. Average commercial taxes will increase $1,279 and average industrial taxes will increase $1,733. Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce interim President Kate Martin said that four housing developments under construction have replaced commercial properties, noting that 89% of the city’s tax base comprises residential properties. This year, the city’s share of commercial properties decreased compared to last year.

Business Bulletin

Healey’s and Agrawal’s Roles in Saving Holy Family Hospital Take Center Stage at Chamber Dinner

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(Additional photograph below.)

Monday’s annual meeting of the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce brought together the two women most responsible for saving Holy Family Hospital in Methuen and Haverhill. Gov. Maura T. Healey thanked Lawrence General Hospital President and CEO Abha Agrawal as she was honored with the Ralph B. Wilkinson Award, the Chamber’s highest honor. The governor put in place the state’s response to the bankruptcy of Steward Health Care, while Agrawal made the bold bid to buy the hospital with campuses in two neighboring cities. Healey praised Agrawal as “the right leader at the right time.”

“What a mess when we got the word that Steward was going out of business,” she said. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad they’re out of the state.

Education

Haverhill School ESPs, City Negotiators Appear Far Apart After 18 Months of Talks

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(Update: The story has been updated to add more about the city’s last offer. Some ESPs would see their salaries increase at Step 4 at 16.4% and 20.2% at Step 5 over the course of the contract.)

The union representing Haverhill Education Support Professionals and School Committee negotiators remain far apart in reaching a new agreement for those who have worked without a contract for a year and half. Union representatives said negotiators have used legal mechanisms to avoid bargaining, while their city counterparts suggest there is more behind the scenes. Haverhill Education Association President Barry Davis said Haverhill school negotiators have been “very difficult to work with over this process.”

“The ESP workforce is a workforce that makes under a living wage. We’ve made it very clear that our priority is bringing these people through the length of the contract closer to a living wage,” he said.

Education

Comments on Shared Whittier Tech and Northern Essex Campus Highlight Pros and Cons

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Those participating in a “listening session” Tuesday on the possibility of a shared campus for Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School and Northern Essex Community College raised traffic, organizational and student age difference concerns, on one hand, and the positives of making Haverhill an education “destination,” on the other. Comments were received during the third of four online focus group meetings. The public was invited to discuss whether they would support a shared campus between both schools. WHAV honored the moderator’s request not to list private individual’s names, but is listing public figures. One attendee said she would love for the city to “be a destination for education.”

“For me, that includes the trades because they are an essential part of our society.

Education

Association of School Committees Backs Haverhill’s Suggested State School Aid Overhaul

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A Haverhill School Committee member’s proposal to overhaul the way the state accounts for inflation in annual education aid payments recently won backing from the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. The plan, brought forward by Association delegate and School Committee member Thomas Grannemann, was approved by the group at its delegate assembly last Friday in Hyannis. The resolution will be used to guide the Association’s efforts to convince legislators to make changes to the formula. It aims to automatically adjust minimum aid and the base amount for which all future budgets build upon. “If the legislature and governor adopt this proposal it would bring about $7 million to $8 million in state school aid to Haverhill each year and similarly help other districts.

Haverhill

Haverhill Honors Veterans During Downtown Ceremonies, Following Annual Parade

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(Additional photograph  below.)

Haverhill veterans, law enforcement and students gathered in Washington Square Monday to honor veterans and recognize their sacrifices during the city’s annual Veterans Day ceremonies. Services followed the annual parade that included Haverhill Police Department and Fire Department honor guards, Haverhill Exchange Club and members of the Haverhill High School Junior ROTC, among others. The ceremony marked the 106th anniversary of the conclusion of the first world war, in which Armistice Day, later replaced by Veterans Day in 1954, was established.  American Legion Post 4 Commander Chris Manning opened the ceremony, followed by remarks from Mayor Melinda E. Barrett. “A tribute like today wouldn’t be possible without Chris and the American Legion, the ROTC and all of the veterans organizations who have partaken, as well as our police and fire department honor guards.