[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6342021,"mediaKeyId","2255979-6c9582daa51cac1120d0b6d6c2a6e2c0","parentId",2255979,"title","Votes at a glance: Danvers School Committee, Feb. 11, 2025","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",8767000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2255979-6c9582daa51cac1120d0b6d6c2a6e2c0&start=8767&end=8767","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2255979-6c9582daa51cac1120d0b6d6c2a6e2c0/thumbnail_8767000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6342021/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Danvers-School-Committee-Feb-11-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6342021-174769c210c34f2a9dde47f2420def3f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144425&Signature=VQW8WaN8JnpYxaHcyaYbSfss2cU9iXOnhNxFU629PPRxcZzANADKMIY8-mrnf84jwXTWEowdcbdc9NEkjdnbm7qe94WRayVyesCQL9xiqeWFeO4o2ktq0GZRZr6HmdTMc1T7IOlLsbYEItfs13i0lEAuRihGqv6N9aXgvGjCrNQNS5lg3dgWORHNwAUakN3LoJuLt3~e0GCmV824gBT-x~AsvndhIYmJ87y2VrWisUzpWq-NQZPcwb3NZXNvRXmbaH6e-l~EoBO2MTX5zKy8I8eX-Um1mPjBET4D64FIBnhOnEO6xv-zLIfQUuH8BbBVjEnTmsrJB~pGV35dsMQmCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Danvers Public Schools, MA","date","2025-02-11T00:00:00Z","article","At its Feb. 11 meeting the Danvers School Committee recorded the following formal actions and outcomes:

- Offer assistant-superintendent position to Kristen Anderson (motion passed; unanimous “aye”). Superintendent authorized to negotiate contract and return to committee for final approval.

- Approve first reading of the competency-determination policy (related to graduation requirements and MCAS changes). Motion for first reading passed.

- Adopt 2025–26 school calendar (motion passed; committee approved superintendent’s recommended calendar).

- Approve consent agenda (homeschool request, fundraising request, HRMS library donation, personnel memo). Motion passed.

- Approve release of regular meeting minutes (01/13/2025) and approve but not release executive-session minutes (01/13/2025). Motions passed.

- Adjournment motion passed.

Notes: The assistant-superintendent appointment is contingent on a negotiated contract to be returned to the committee for final approval. The competency-determination policy was approved for first reading; the committee indicated it will finalize policy language in a future meeting if the state DESE guidance changes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Danvers School Committee Meeting - 2/10/25","oneSentenceSummary","The committee approved the assistant-superintendent offer, took first reading of a competency-determination policy, adopted the 2025–26 school calendar and approved routine consent items and minutes.","taxTitle","Danvers Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",71324,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6342026,"School committee votes to offer assistant superintendent role to Kristen Anderson",1676,7240000,8916000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2255979-6c9582daa51cac1120d0b6d6c2a6e2c0&start=7240&end=8916","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2255979-6c9582daa51cac1120d0b6d6c2a6e2c0/thumbnail_7240000.jpg","/articles/6342026/Massachusetts/School-committee-votes-to-offer-assistant-superintendent-role-to-Kristen-Anderson","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6342026-cd9cd329da2e55f3088dc3e2a4e40c62/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144425&Signature=ZAnVKkDA4ZWVO3~~iYfin3Yg1WF4SNj6xWGb5HhKg2PR~NGDU0Av4BLyOvOQ8uvkOvs9iO9pUyvWh7Iq0SwbURNtf~OMUcJTZUI2ckssyr4GBXykdSAO7dP0OrxPNp9gPEXfz297lFFKcLk2nPuFnYxlhlUKZvt4f-Sle8AR5DSUMzbxslR18AiISY5w5-riwaEnKtlDlhCXMH9ai~y5tT6XKzXu-Y1isSWEE-K3oaT5OvNEImeO~99xEhll6vGIMwiLJMM54a~Qr6L9B7zelGUPpk~S~WIuuG6sS4wxs92Uiy8t60zHba-VpDQlTUKoVpJ2JlRW551O1qWw36xGxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Danvers School Committee voted on Feb. 11 to offer the district’s assistant superintendent position to Kristen Anderson following a multi-stage search and interview process. The committee approved two motions: (1) to offer the assistant-superintendent position to Anderson (motion passed by roll call: unanimous ‘aye’), and (2) to authorize Superintendent Dan to negotiate a contract with Anderson and return the proposed agreement to the committee for final approval (motion passed unanimously).

Superintendent Dan summarized the search process, saying the district had nearly 40 applicants and used a search committee, stakeholder interviews and a public virtual presentation. Dan noted strong reference checks and described Anderson as an experienced candidate with a background in curriculum, professional development and system-level leadership across elementary, middle and high school contexts.

Committee members thanked outgoing interim leaders and emphasized the depth of the finalist pool; they also praised Peter Damaro for serving as acting high-school principal during the search. The committee asked Superintendent Dan to return with a negotiated contract for final committee vote.

Why this matters: The assistant superintendent role is a central administrative post that will influence district curriculum, professional development and system operations. The committee’s vote completes the selection stage and begins contract negotiation, which requires a subsequent final vote by the committee.","After a multi-stage search, the Danvers School Committee voted to offer Kristen Anderson the assistant-superintendent position and authorized the superintendent to negotiate a contract for committee approval.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6342031,"Danvers Cares presents youth risk behavior survey: sleep, bullying and mental-health disparities noted",1302,4500000,5802000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2255979-6c9582daa51cac1120d0b6d6c2a6e2c0&start=4500&end=5802","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2255979-6c9582daa51cac1120d0b6d6c2a6e2c0/thumbnail_4500000.jpg","/articles/6342031/Massachusetts/Danvers-Cares-presents-youth-risk-behavior-survey-sleep-bullying-and-mental-health-disparities-noted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6342031-407b9f868cd7982817a7b94a8a8ef80a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144425&Signature=d-LNEz9fLNtasSnLGcxhXXq1sXaF3Mw2BJ4RgRHhtyCLlza1Fg8uQtxSRp1w1Ro6w3PK62hXR09lvH6oDYULXDQ61CIsZWHk8xU4kbKYJp52aClBOBPyzu-1pPQ5OzV~EaXhDvgpy3FlTwxhkIaVpTJipNMH05AGTqPYdQLGtr-TdUwmjsHhHRYFCIXV9IUgD3p3p3On1SUmtjnJzrJT9ZTItzZXzTjf22KKUpE99EXh0MqNAyCjmZweEGLp5FviEIJ5Lsj8IkNfNlN~p42QERf868Qjtj30yhftwLO70xwRyXlqKKAxQtMKswCilfiIWjmSsVGyjrjMixDwooRDzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Amanda Weber (Danvers High School social worker and Danvers Cares program director) and Laura Mayer (clinical social worker and school/community liaison) presented results from a youth risk behavior survey administered to Danvers High students in October 2024.

Key findings presented to the School Committee: about 35% of surveyed students reported getting fewer than six hours of sleep on an average school night; roughly 2% of respondents reported going hungry because there was not enough food at home (about 14 students in the sample of 698); 48% of students said they feel close to people at school overall, but lower connectedness was reported among Black (25%), Hispanic/Latino (30%) and LGBQ (28%) students. Transgender students reported higher rates of being treated unfairly because of gender identity (42%).

On bullying and mental health, presenters reported 16% experienced bullying on school property in the past year and 18% electronically; rates were higher among transgender and LGBQ students (transgender: ~37% on-property bullying; LGBQ: ~34% on-property). Mental-health measures showed 27% feeling overwhelmed by stress most or all of the time and 24% meeting the survey’s definition of depression (feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two-plus weeks). The presenters said these depression and attempted-suicide numbers are lower than the most recent state averages for some measures but noted large disparities within subgroups: 38% of LGBTQ students reported considering suicide in the past 12 months versus 9% among non-LGBTQ students; attempted-suicide rates were 4% overall and 9% among LGBTQ respondents.

Danvers Cares leaders described current and planned responses: a nicotine-cessation prevention intervention that can be used as a first-offense alternative to suspension; healthy-relationships programming and assemblies during Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month; youth mental-health first-aid instructor training to expand in-district capacity; and planned family/guardian engagement events. The presenters said the full slideshow and meeting video would be posted on the Danvers Cares website and the district will re-administer the YRBS in the future to track trends.

Why this matters: The survey provides a baseline of student health and wellness indicators; the committee and Danvers Cares emphasized targeted outreach and family engagement to address disparities identified for LGBTQ+ and transgender students and to expand school-based prevention and supports.","Danvers Cares presented YRBS results for Danvers High School showing high rates of short sleep, disparities in school connectedness by race and sexual orientation, elevated bullying and self-harm reports among LGBTQ+ and transgender students, and lower rates of some substance-use measures than state averages.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_46":105,"_48":106,"_50":107,"_52":108,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":109,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":110,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6342035,"Essex Tech representative: assessments rising, admissions lottery proposal would shift enrollment and budgets",1490,2600000,4090000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2255979-6c9582daa51cac1120d0b6d6c2a6e2c0&start=2600&end=4090","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2255979-6c9582daa51cac1120d0b6d6c2a6e2c0/thumbnail_2600000.jpg","/articles/6342035/Massachusetts/Essex-Tech-representative-assessments-rising-admissions-lottery-proposal-would-shift-enrollment-and-budgets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6342035-f339119e2a7cf355a6d2e2fb89138f97/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144425&Signature=NA9iMARbwEroGEJTp2h2GfvcrhXFgGd682Ql5ArKgXqXsBoYjVKt471DqOILHJIC55pj2qg2ZZx4AHuY9LkNwxelUIym3Kr9b3VBsMTBd4Fcvg-~6QA5V4FGNS6dtWJ4tbt3XYjViSrsOsEGnyyI3SB4PAPyE99QtM92R1DeEtpmKyuA8AfwrZUsmed2H5WKWf72Z7FFxg0uYf1nAWwCQnxIb1dUPjaLPisd3pR01pxesvmbO1R~d~Cwg2uMVCL1mtc6CV0aeeSzqKDG7BQuUuI~Rqi-rvkO-giWscJB4TmQ92BUqyC9avtXUFfVVuJBVQ8Vuvh661v51PhPfXX7dA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mr. Landers, the Danvers representative to Essex North Shore Vocational Technical School (Essex Tech), presented a yearly update to the School Committee on Feb. 11. He said the district’s preliminary assessment for fiscal 2026 is expected to rise about 4% (roughly $170,000 for Danvers) and that Danvers’ enrollment at Essex Tech remains steady at 239 students from the town.

Landers said that across the 17 sending districts, some communities face assessment increases exceeding 15% and a few with larger jumps. He described the Essex Tech application cycle as competitive for Danvers students and noted that Danvers had 47 applicants this cycle (down from 53 the prior year) and that most Danvers applicants secure placement in one of their top program choices.

A central point of Landers’ update was a statewide Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) proposal to require blind-lottery admissions for some vocational districts. Landers said Essex Tech has pursued proactive outreach and nonlottery evaluation — including interviews and guidance-staff referral — to improve access for underrepresented students and argued that a blanket lottery could undo progress in districts that have deliberately diversified their rosters. He said Essex Tech’s admission process includes discretionary, subjective components (interviews and local guidance input) and that removal of those elements could have consequences for both student fit and sending-town budgets because a blind lottery might result in substantial swings in the number of students each sending town sends and thus in assessments.

Landers also outlined governance and voting-weight mechanics at the regional district: although the school committee has 21 members, votes are weighted by sending-district enrollment (he noted Danvers carries six weighted votes and Peabody 10 in the current formula). He flagged two near-term pressures for vocational districts: a personnel-driven budget increase (a new contract drove a projected 4.5% preliminary district budget increase) and a statewide push on admissions practice that he said may proceed despite local objections.

Why this matters: A change to admissions rules could shift who attends Essex Tech and how much each sending town pays; Danvers leaders will monitor the DESE debate because enrollment shifts can materially affect local assessments and long-term budgeting.","Mr. Landers reported a preliminary 4% assessment increase for Danvers' share of Essex North Shore Vocational Technical School, described flat Danvers enrollment at Essex Tech and pushed back on a statewide push for blind-lottery admissions, citing outreach and diversity gains.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_46":117,"_48":118,"_50":119,"_52":120,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":121,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":122,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6342039,"State legislators brief Danvers on Emergency Assistance funding, bus-camera pilot and circuit-breaker push",1522,1000000,2522000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2255979-6c9582daa51cac1120d0b6d6c2a6e2c0&start=1000&end=2522","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2255979-6c9582daa51cac1120d0b6d6c2a6e2c0/thumbnail_1000000.jpg","/articles/6342039/Massachusetts/State-legislators-brief-Danvers-on-Emergency-Assistance-funding-bus-camera-pilot-and-circuit-breaker-push","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6342039-b1610ef06480ca55b7c7436473fab8ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771144425&Signature=aFtj0mc2bjgq4PXlTvhdOfFsam2SVyiOJqCjD~gT9Tvj5k-qZ~Wnrj1Un9-Eo4lsjdDDcQsqGmyr1P-I9bmAYoJZsVyszeD3vfRIpTIUvsaP-rovq~NLtZlaevMugMA8XpjWl-f9nIHINHjPyBmHOdQtAcLvW7l~Va5x3dw7vIRuNdqeeTFWhtAwNEYljYqKS42WatCcsjA3YoWU1uiQnptArQn3y06a8M~-6Rr6MITRhO6XqtMm3a8VlD6u6Zw~IpIgfKR57REUIHsH9S6k3xWeZ8fvVvDgEp50VOPvcfYbLXL1Sd7611Vf2HZvLZNPFkkr9kK7rLbKVzkFbPmjOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Joan Lovely and Representative Sally Kearns told the Danvers School Committee on Feb. 11 that the Legislature is considering a supplemental budget to extend Emergency Assistance (EA) payments through the end of the fiscal year and to refine eligibility rules. The legislators said the House passed a package with new caps and eligibility requirements and that the Senate expected to consider the EA supplemental in informal session on Thursday, after a short amendment deadline.

Lovely said the EA program was designed in the early 1980s as an emergency shelter system for families and that recent increases in families seeking assistance had led lawmakers to pursue tighter eligibility rules while funding the system through the current fiscal year. She said about 60% of current EA participants are Massachusetts families and about 40% are documented asylum seekers; the supplemental the House passed contains caps and further requirements intended to reduce program size to a level lawmakers view as sustainable.

Representative Kearns described a pilot of the School Bus Safety Enforcement Act that places cameras on buses in Peabody (and Salem), capturing nearly 3,412 vehicles failing to stop for 10 camera-equipped buses between September and May in one town. She said the new law removes a state-level obstacle to placing cameras on school buses; towns must opt in, and the fines would be assessed against the vehicle owner and return to the community as revenue. Kearns said the pilot showed thousands of violations and that the change allows municipalities to choose to install exterior cameras and related software without requiring a special town vote.

Both legislators urged continued partnership with districts, and Danvers Superintendent Dan (identified in the meeting only by first name) thanked them for advocacy on behalf of districts that are educating students displaced by motel sheltering and other homelessness responses. Danvers leaders reiterated interest in two specific state funding priorities discussed at the meeting: raising the effective reimbursement rate for special-education transportation in the circuit-breaker program from a recent earmark (44% in the House proposal) toward 75%, and increasing the chapter 70 foundation amount to deliver additional per-pupil aid.

Kearns and Lovely also raised federal immigration enforcement as a concern for schools and said districts and municipalities are discussing policies and local protocols; both legislators said state authority is limited but that local governments are seeking ways to protect students during school hours. Lovely added a local note that the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution will prompt events in the region and encouraged district involvement.

Why this matters: The EA supplemental affects budget planning for districts that have absorbed children in motel or shelter placements; increased circuit-breaker reimbursement and chapter 70 aid would reduce local fiscal pressure. The bus-camera option provides communities a voluntary enforcement tool that can generate fines and potentially deter vehicles from passing stopped school buses.","Sen. Joan Lovely and Rep. Sally Kearns updated the Danvers School Committee on a pending supplemental budget for Emergency Assistance (EA), efforts to raise special-education circuit-breaker and transportation reimbursement levels, and a school-bus camera pilot that towns may opt into.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Danvers School Committee, Feb. 11, 2025

School committee votes to offer assistant superintendent role to Kristen Anderson

Danvers Cares presents youth risk behavior survey: sleep, bullying and mental-health disparities noted

Essex Tech representative: assessments rising, admissions lottery proposal would shift enrollment and budgets

State legislators brief Danvers on Emergency Assistance funding, bus-camera pilot and circuit-breaker push