Everett Public Schools will offer free full-day preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds starting in September, under a plan Superintendent William Hart and Assistant Superintendent Margaret Adams presented to the School Committee on Tuesday, January 20. The committee voted 10-0 to put a formal vote on its February 2 agenda. Earlier the same day, the Webster School was recognized at the State House as one of only two Massachusetts schools named a 2025 National ESEA Distinguished School.
Full-day pre-K
The district now runs half-day sessions of about two and a half hours at the Adams School and the Webster Extension, the old high school. Hart cited University of Virginia and Boston Public Schools studies showing gains in vocabulary, reading, math and social-emotional skills from full-day programs. “I know our parents want it. I know that we can do it,” he said. “I do think that the cost associated with this is minimal, but the benefits are priceless.”
Adams said the plan converts existing half-day rooms to full-day rooms, keeps some half-day seats so no child who enrolls mid-year is turned away, and adds multi-age classrooms of 15, seven with special needs and eight general education, replacing the self-contained integrated learning program. Preschool rooms would hold 16 and pre-K rooms 18. Hours would be 8:15 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Registration begins in March, a lottery would be held in May if there are more applicants than seats, and families would be notified in June and asked to confirm residency, a step Adams said Chelsea and Lynn use because “you sometimes have families who may not be residents” trying to enroll once full day is free. The only new staffing is one paraprofessional at the Adams School, plus “maybe 30 to $40,000 of some furniture and some materials.” No preference would be given to families already enrolled.
Joanna Garren asked whether the program would stay free. “Correct. There would be no cost,” Adams said. Millie Cardello said the plan “is almost gonna make me cry.” Almeida Barros said the vote belongs on a posted agenda item because it is a policy change, and added: “There are school districts across the state laying off staff because they don’t have the budget for it. Everett is actually bringing full day preschool. So this is humongous.” He warned members they will get calls when the lottery fills: “Let’s leave the superintendent do his job with his team.”
Webster School honored
Third graders from the Webster School opened the meeting in explorer vests and binoculars, presenting dioramas of poison dart frogs, king cobras, axolotls, a Siberian tiger, a clownfish and a koala from their literacy unit on animal classification. Van Campen asked the children, “How do I get one of those vests?” Chris Barrett, the school’s former principal and now assistant superintendent, then reported on the State House ceremony. The Webster was honored in the category for serving English learners, students with disabilities and high-need students; interim principal Devan Abruzzese said 72 percent of its 351 students speak a language other than English at home. “I often said many times that we are one of the greatest elementary schools in the nation. And today, that belief was affirmed,” Barrett said.
Enrollment
Robin Babcock, citing a Boston Globe report that Chelsea lost 350 students, asked whether Everett is seeing the same decline. Hart said the district reported a little over 300 fewer students on October 1 than a year earlier, 6,908, but has since gained more than 100, with 30 more waiting on paperwork and five new enrollments on the day of the meeting, for about 7,082. He said the state formula pays more for first-year immigrant students and English learners, who are now 44 percent of enrollment, up from 12 percent a decade ago. “I don’t think it’s as dire as some other communities,” he said.
Also January 20
- Hart said the district’s independent year-end audit again found no findings in 22 areas.
- Everett High will play a Thanksgiving Day football game at Waltham, the first in many years, time to be confirmed.
- Seniors Kayshawn Evillard and Lucas Nunez set school records at the Northeast Invitational at the Reggie Lewis Center, Evillard in the 300 meters and Nunez in the 1,000.
- Every student in kindergarten through grade 3 will get packets of decodable books from Just Right Reader before February break, April break and summer, with QR codes for audio in multiple languages.
- The committee accepted a $55,000 Glean literacy continuation grant, approved the 2026-27 calendar, and approved disposal of 40 broken desk-chairs at the high school, all 10-0. Bills and payroll of about $1.5 million and $3.1 million were approved.
- Hurley was reappointed to the Shore Collaborative board, Garren as MASC delegate and Babcock as student advisory liaison, each on 10 votes. Subcommittee assignments were handed out.
- The committee adjourned into executive session at 8:16 p.m. on an MCAD case and a case titled Wallace v. Everett.
Previous School Committee meeting (January 6): Samantha Hurley Re-Elected Everett School Committee Chair 10-0; Marcony Almeida Barros Becomes Vice Chair as Mayor Van Campen Takes His Seat
