North Andover School Committee Takes First Steps Toward New High School Science Curriculum

NORTH ANDOVER -- May 21, 2026, North Andover School Committee advances new high school science curriculum and five-year strategic plan on first reads. The committee heard a detailed proposal from Director of Teaching and Learning Kara Larcombe to adopt OpenSciEd, an inquiry-based, EdReports-rated program, for biology, chemistry, and physics, alongside a Project Lead the Way biomedical sciences expansion funded by a $75,000 grant from the 1-8 Foundation; a vote is set for June 4. Superintendent Pamela Lathrop and consultants from Teaching Learning Alliance presented "Growing Together, 2026-2031," a strategic plan developed with input from nearly 700 community participants and organized around five focus areas: teaching and learning, community engagement, resources and facilities and technology, communication, and culture and climate. Committee member Ed Moskowitz pushed back during the strategic plan discussion, warning that persistent post-pandemic literacy deficits affecting the lowest-income students were not explicitly named in the plan and calling that "uncomfortable" ahead of a likely future override request. The committee also voted 4-0 to reappoint Dr. Chan as school physician at $9,000 annually and to permanently redistrict 12 ABCC students from the Atkinson to Thompson Elementary attendance zone. Class of 2026 valedictorian Louien Ismail, who earned a 4.965 GPA, and salutatorian Natasha Sikan, a Dartmouth-bound National Merit commendation recipient, were formally recognized at what was also the final meeting for senior student representatives Allie Robertson and Ismail.