Education

Haverhill Schools Appeal to Parents to Press Bus Pass Usage

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The Haverhill School Department is appealing to parents of pre-kindergarten, elementary and middle school students to urge their children to use their bus passes when getting on and off city school buses so their whereabouts can be tracked. The voluntary bus pass system began three years ago for all but high school students as a safety measure. However, the system’s new transportation guru, Chief Financial Officer Clancy D. Main, told the Haverhill School Committee Thursday, last year’s bus swipe compliance was low. He said he hopes by making the passes available by the first day of school for first grade through senior year Wednesday, Sept. 2, students will form better habits.

Education

Haverhill School Committee Signs Off on Immigrant Student Protections

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The Haverhill School Committee suspended its rules last Thursday to adopt an emergency measure, strengthening protections for immigrant children and staff faced with arrest by federal officials. Haverhill School Superintendent Margaret Marotta told the board the district already has a policy in place that requires administrators to contact the school department attorney should an agent from Immigration and Custom Enforcement show up at one of the public schools. “We would not allow the student to go at that point until we had assurance through our attorney’s office that it was the proper warrant and that we had no other options, Marotta said. Committee members voted unanimously to adopt the version of the policy offered by the Massachusetts School Committee Association which makes clear arrests are not allowed on school property without a valid judicial warrant. The vote was taken so the new policy is in place in time for the start of the new school year Wednesday, Sept.

Haverhill

Haverhill to Consider Hilldale, Other Alternatives for Battery Site Zone

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Five additional sites in Haverhill that could accommodate a so-called battery energy storage system, or BESS, will soon be considered by the Haverhill City Council. Haverhill city councilors put off a discussion Tuesday night about a proposed zone on Amesbury Road in the event any such siting proposals come before the city. The Council’s own Planning and Development Committee Monday appeared poised Monday night, however, to recommend other sites. A Hilldale Avenue site scored highest among both city departments and subcommittee members. Other options include Broadway Business Park on Computer Drive off Route 97, Cross and Neck Roads in Ward Hill and Groveland Road at the old city dump.

Haverhill

Council Hears Looming Basiliere Bridge Partial Demo, Traffic Plan

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State highway officials told Haverhill city councilors traffic on the Pfc. Ralph T. Basiliere Bridge, which connects Haverhill’s downtown to Bradford, will be cut in half to one lane in each direction beginning in mid-September until the $240 million replacement is completed in 2032. Additionally, drivers coming from Bradford will no longer be able to take a left onto Merrimack Street off the bridge and instead will be redirected up to Bailey Boulevard. Meanwhile, heavy truck traffic is being redirected to Interstate 495, away from downtown, and residents asked to seek alternative routes. Nathaniel Cabral-Curtis, a communications consultant, said a combination of emails, a website and push notifications will help get the message out.

Haverhill

Haverhill Councilors Postpone Debate Over Battery Energy Storage Systems Zoning

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Haverhill Councilors Tuesday night delayed a planned a public hearing on creating zoning overlay districts for so-called Battery Energy Storage Systems, or BESS, until their Tuesday, Sept. 15, meeting. The postponement came at the request of Vice President John A. Michitson who was absent. Michitson heads the Council’s Planning and Development Committee which is developing criteria for siting such battery farms.

At the initial discussion, the Council asked the city’s planning department to rank sites which are suitable for such an installation. Back in May, City Solicitor Lisa L. Mead drafted an ordinance that would allow a battery storage farm at the former Dutton Airport, off Route 110 near Northern Essex Community College.

Haverhill

Appeals Board Sends 2 of 3 Multifamily Projects to Haverhill Council

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Proponents of two new three-family houses, one on North Street and another on Riverside Avenue, were given the green light to seek special permits from the Haverhill City Council after the Board of Appeals approved variance requests Wednesday. A third, four-family to be located at 5 Avon Place was rejected unanimously for failing “to meet dimensional requirements,” according to Haverhill Planning Director Jacki Byerley. Benchmark Property Associates is proposing to build a three-unit building on North Street. The zoning board unanimously approved two variances, one because the lot size is 6,500 square feet where 11,700 square feet is required, and a second as the lot has 50 feet of frontage where 80 feet is required. While the property has not been awarded a formal postal address, Byerley told WHAV the lot, located in a residential urban density zone, is next to 6 North St.

Education

Haverhill School Committee Bans E-bikes, E-scooters

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Calling it a safety measure, the Haverhill School Committee Thursday, banned all electric bikes, electric scooters, powered hoverboards from school property effective immediately. The new rules allow banned devices to be confiscated from anyone found using one on a school property. If a student is involved, a parent will be called to retrieve it. Haverhill Police Lt. Kevin Lynch appeared before the school board to outline his department’s position. “We’ve all seen it.

Education

Fields, Driveway and Parking Next Up at Consentino School Site

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(Additional photograph below.)

Demolition debris at the site of the original Dr. Albert B. Consentino School on Washington Street is expected be cleared over the next six weeks. Haverhill school’s Chief Financial Officer Clancy D. Main told School Committee members last Thursday the old Consentino School was reduced to rubble and, once cleared, construction will begin on an upgraded driveway, parking area and playing fields. In other business, Vice Chair Thomas W. Grannemann said the district received a formal Level 3 grievance from the Haverhill Education Association over allowable courses which meet district continuing education requisites. That required the School Committee to appoint a subcommittee to review it. Appointed to serve were Grannemann, at-large member Penelope Guerrero and Ward 5 member Jill Story.