Haverhill Public Schools
District Parent Council
Meeting Notes
November 19, 2025

Location: Central Office, Large Conference Room

Time: 9:30 am

Attendees: Dr. Margaret Marotta, Dianne Connolly, Bonnie Antkowiak, Amy Marsan (JG Whittier), Ryan Fairbanks (Walnut Square), Nikky Troumbelos (Hunking), Ryan Clarke (Bradford), Lindsey Clarke (Bradford), Meagan Hanscom (Consentino, HHS)

Updates from Dr. Marotta

• School Committee election update
• Local level – budget training
• State mandates a 4-hour training – law & order ethics
• What is SC authority?
  • Four focus areas:
    • They have “say” over policy
    • They bring constituents’ concerns
    • They are involved in negotiations
    • Budget/expenditures/sign off on warrants
• SC existing and newly elected members suggest an audit
  • There is an annual audit available on the COH website 
  • This audit will explore spending practices and identify areas where we can save money as a school district moving forward. Hopefully, looking at best practices and comparable districts to see where we fall in the greater landscape of school budgeting and what we might do differently in terms of spending
• Spending Cuts (?)
  • Some grants came as partial payment but have now been fully allocated – or will be. 
  • Budget times are tough, while next year will be tight, it should be “ok” – with perhaps some minimal cuts,  when in 2027, we  lose School Opportunity Act increases, the outlook is more concerning 
  • Enrollment is unofficially down by 130 students – we await official numbers, these numbers drive next year’s CHp 70 enrollment numbers. 
    • We lose $9,000-Chp 70 per student, leaving us a million dollars down
    • ML “newcomers” are a large portion of the decrease

Other

• Grants – written for specifics, 
• Food waste
  • Kitchen leftovers are tossed out while we have food insecurity – a discussion ensued about of federal regulations around food safety and the balance of those expectations with hungry children.  
  • Building food pantries – food insecurities
  • Share tables at schools
• What drives insurance costs?
  • Staff injury
  • Workmans Comp
  • Legal action
  • Buses
  • Facilities – flood claims

School Updates

Bradford

• Title I/Halloween Night -Fun, but needs to be reworked. Suggestions from other site council members about how to include the educational portion of the event in a more engaging manner. 
• Community clean-up partnered with the Exchange Club

JG Whittier

• Hired OPM – currently negotiating a rate with SBC, and then will go to SC
• 2030/ 31 opening – 5-7 year process
• Over the next 12- 18 months, Feasibility Study
• “Whilton” – Exploring the possibility of a Whittier and Tilton mix. It would require redrawing of the zone lines in the coming year. 
  • $130-150 million each to replace the 2 schools (today’s dollars) over the next dozen years, 
  • $180 million for one Whilton 
  • Exploring ideas and options during the feasibility study to share options and costs with taxpayers- who will be the ultimate sya over next steps. 

Next Meeting

• Beacon Transportation is invited to the next meeting to discuss the Bus APP 
• Whitson’s Food Services  – Justin Hodgkins invited to discuss regulations around food sharing and ways to improve our food services to meet the needs of students . 
• Post notes on the website
• Next meeting Thursday, December 18 @ 4:00