The Everett School Committee opened the 2026-27 school year on Monday, August 31 with a short, unanimous agenda: an extra $651,950 in Chapter 70 state aid, five grants worth about $937,000, a revised district calendar, and permission for eighth graders to play on Everett High School teams this year. Every roll call was 9-0, with Joseph D’Onofrio absent.
Money
The committee acknowledged the Chapter 70 increase and accepted a $400,000 Career Technical Initiative grant, a $210,472 continuation grant for the district’s registered teacher apprenticeship program, $170,948 in 21st Century Community Learning Centers money, a $156,053 federal Perkins grant for career and technical education, and $6,000 from UCLA for the Parent Teacher Home Visits program. It also approved a new student activity account for the Crimson Tide Crew team and paid $1,151,134.99 in bills and payroll, a figure the Finance and Negotiations subcommittee had cleared in a two-minute meeting at 6 p.m.
Calendar and the first day
The revised calendar makes Tuesday, September 1 a no-school day because of the state primary, moves the first day for grades 1-12 to Wednesday, September 2 and kindergarten to September 3, and starts the district’s first full-day pre-kindergarten program on Wednesday, September 9. A dual immersion program also launches this year.
School space
Superintendent William Hart told the committee the district is working with Mayor Robert Van Campen on a location for grade 7 and 8 students while the city and the schools work with the Massachusetts School Building Authority on a new high school. The firm Left Field is serving as owner’s project manager on both efforts. Asked by Joanna Garren about the search, Van Campen briefly described the ongoing talks to find, convert or build space. The city later scheduled a public meeting on K-8 options for September 30 at the Parlin School.
Also August 31
- Hart recapped the back-to-school convocation held that morning in the EHS auditorium, with speeches by teacher Wayne Bailey, student Anna Pereira, Chairperson Samantha Hurley and motivational speaker and musician Mickey Smith Jr. Almeida Barros congratulated the administration on the event.
- New student representative Samira Khobzy gave her first report, on the student ambassadors who worked the convocation.
- Hart showed three slides of iReady and DIBELS reading data for K-8, previewed the district’s first strategic plan, and said the official enrollment count goes to the state on October 1.
- Members Plus Credit Union and the Saugus-Everett Elks each donated 150 backpacks.
- Hurley, opening the year, said the committee’s “shared commitment remains clear: to support the district, strengthen our schools, and help create an environment where every student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.”
The meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m. The next regular meeting was set for Tuesday, September 8.
Previous School Committee meeting (June 16): Everett High Is Seeking Two New Vocational Programs, Public Safety and Broadcast Production, and $2 Million in State Grants for Medical and Coding Labs
