The Newburyport School Committee received an update April 29 on work exploring a possible collaboration between Northern Essex Community College and Whittier Technical High School. The effort grew from a Donahue Institute study that examined shared-campus and deeper merger models designed to create pathways from vocational high school through community college.

Superintendent (name not specified) summarized that the Donahue report presented multiple models — from shared campus to a full consolidation with shared administrative and maintenance services — and that the current phase is a working group of the 11 cities and towns that belong to the regional arrangement. The committee was told that the MSBA will expect a letter from all 11 communities by July 1 if the group wishes to remain in line with the agency’s review processes.

The working group recommended a formal feasibility study to explore options and costs. Meeting participants said the feasibility estimate is currently about $2.5 million; the Newburyport committee was told a rough share for the city could be about $120,000 under the old regional formula, with Northern Essex and Whittier each committing $500,000 toward the study. Committee members said Ipswich and Georgetown have already signed letters of support to keep the project in MSBA consideration.

Committee members stressed that signing the letter or funding a study would not commit municipalities to any final reorganization. Mary (surname not specified), speaking as a committee representative, explained that municipal votes and a new regional agreement would be required before any structural change. The superintendent noted the process has been tense at times and that some towns (Haverhill, earlier) were reluctant to change the existing regional agreement, but Raleigh and other members have returned to the table and participation has increased in recent meetings.

No binding decisions were made at the Newburyport meeting; staff said they will return with any additional materials and slides from the Donahue report for a future meeting and that municipalities will continue to discuss the feasibility study and letter to MSBA.

The committee noted this remains a multiyear, multijurisdictional process that could include significant state involvement if the group pursues a new combined model linking vocational high school and community college pathways.