WEST NEWBURY — Superintendent Justin Bartholomew and Principal Emily Puteri report that the Dr. John C. Page School was placed in secure mode after a suspicious vehicle was found parked in the woods near the school.
West Newbury Police and Fire responded to the school shortly after 10:30 for a report of a vehicle parked in the woods near the school. West Newbury Police noted immediately that the vehicle’s description matched the description of a vehicle wanted out of Newburyport that may have been involved in a motor vehicle crash in that city.
Out of an abundance of caution, the school was placed in secure mode, meaning no one was allowed to enter or leave the building.
Police responded, secured the area, and located an adult male inside the vehicle. The man was placed in custody, and crews are working to remove the vehicle from the woods. The Newburyport Police Department has been notified.
Pre-K pickup, scheduled for 11:15 at the front of the building, will proceed as scheduled. Parents are advised to come to the front of the building like usual and that no cars will be permitted in the back — or to drive around the building — due to the ongoing emergency response.
There is no danger to the school community. The school day is proceeding as scheduled, but students will be kept inside for the remainder of the school day.
The established school safety and security policies in place in the Pentucket Regional School District were followed, and police, fire and school officials are all in contact with each other.
Additional information will be released as it becomes available.
Julie Torrisi, center, a member of the We Are Pentucket Municipal Ballot Question Committee, cuts the ribbon on the new Pentucket Regional Junior-Senior High School. Torrisi is flanked by Jack McCarthy, left, Executive Director of the Massachusetts School Building Authority, and School Committee Member Dena Trotta. (Photo Courtesy Pentucket Regional School District)
Student ambassadors led tours of the new building. (Photo Courtesy Pentucket Regional School District)
Members of the Pentucket Regional High School Choir — from left, Kyla Dolan, Keira Milliken, Paige Nottingham, Madelyn Shikes, and Leslianis Weinburg — perform the Star-Spangled Banner. (Photo Courtesy Pentucket Regional School District)
Denise and Paul Pouliot, members of the Cowasuck clan of the Penacook-Abenaki People, perform a ceremony. (Photo Courtesy Pentucket Regional School District)
High School Principal Jonathan Seymour, who chaired the School Building Committee. (Photo Courtesy Pentucket Regional School District)
School Committee Chair Christopher Markuns (Photo Courtesy Pentucket Regional School District)
State Sen. Bruce Tarr (Photo Courtesy Pentucket Regional School District)
More than 200 people attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Photo Courtesy Pentucket Regional School District)
More than 200 people attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. (Photo Courtesy Pentucket Regional School District)
State Rep. Lenny Mirra, left, and state Sen. Bruce Tarr, right, presented Superintendent Justin Bartholomew with proclamations from the Legislature. (Photo Courtesy Pentucket Regional School District)
WEST NEWBURY – The Pentucket Regional School District cut the ribbon on the new Pentucket Regional Junior-Senior High School on Wednesday, marking a major milestone in an eight-year effort to build a state-of the art building.
More than 200 people, including District, state, and local officials, community members, parents, and future students, celebrated during a ceremony in the courtyard of the new school. About 970 students and 160 staff members began classes in the new building on Tuesday, Sept. 6.
Superintendent Justin Bartholomew, a 1994 Pentucket graduate, explained that District leaders had proposed building a new school more than 20 years ago, but could not muster enough community support.
The idea was revived in 2014 under then-Superintendent Jeffrey Mulqueen. A School Building Committee was launched in 2016. The We Are Pentucket Municipal Ballot Question Committee formed in 2018 to generate support in the sending communities of Groveland, Merrimac, and West Newbury.
In 2019, voters in all three communities overwhelmingly approved a $146.3 million building for grades 7-12. The Massachusetts School Building Authority is providing up to $52.7 million in support of the project.
“This is the work of all the people who raised me, who raised all these students through the years,” Superintendent Bartholomew said. “They taught us not to give up. When you see adversity, how do you get around it? When you see an obstacle, how do you break through? And, ensure you’re speaking the truth.”
High School Principal Jonathan Seymour, who chaired the School Building Committee, and School Committee Chair Christopher Markuns thanked the more than two dozen people who served on the Building Committee. “When we embarked on this project, we knew it was a commitment and a statement of our values,” Chair Markuns said. “You feel the weight of that commitment, and you feel urgency to meet it. That means putting the people, staff, resources and programming inside it to meet its full potential.”
MSBA Executive Director Jack McCarthy praised the Building Committee for the selection of the construction team, which has delivered the building on time and within its budget.
McCarthy quoted Salt Lake City Tribune columnist Dan Valentine, who wrote, “A school is four walls, with tomorrow inside.” McCarthy added: “We are proud to be part of Pentucket’s tomorrow.”
State Sen. Bruce Tarr, state Rep. Lenny Mirra, and Calee Merenda, representing state Sen. Diana DiZoglio, presented proclamations congratulating the District.
Rep. Mirra praised Superintendent Bartholomew for opening the former Junior High and Senior High for community tours. The former Junior High School was opened in 1967, while the former High School opened in 1958. “When we walked through and saw the infrastructure, it became apparent we couldn’t just slap another coat of paint on it,” Rep. Mirra said.
Sen. Tarr said the new building embodied the passion, persistence, and collaboration that are the hallmarks of the District.
“The doors of opportunity are about to open wide and through those doors you will find something that isn’t new to the Pentucket communities: Passionate and committed educators, who have always given it their best regardless of what the building looked like,” Sen. Tarr said. “They will get the building they deserve. The students will get the building they deserve.”
Senior Dominic Karatzas led the Pledge of Allegiance. Kyla Dolan, Paige Nottingham, Keira Milliken, Madelyn Shikes, and Leslianis Weinburg, members of the award-winning Pentucket Regional High School Choir, performed the Star-Spangled Banner. Paul and Denise Pouliot, representatives of the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook-Abenaki People, opened the program with a traditional blessing. The Pentucket region is the ancestral home of the Abenaki and Wabanaki.
Members of the We Are Pentucket committee — Julie Torrisi, Julie Wisniewski, Chris Manning, Dena Trotter, and Lindsay Goff — led the ribbon-cutting. Student ambassadors conducted tours of the building.
About Pentucket Junior-Senior High School
A two-story wing houses students in Grades 7 and 8. A separate three-story wing houses students in Grades 9-12. The two wings are joined by a large foyer and dining commons.
Key features of the school include:
A state-of-the-art HVAC system and solar roof panels. It is estimated these measures will save $2 million in energy costs during the next 20 years, by reducing the building’s energy footprint and lessening carbon emissions. The new school is on path to receive the coveted LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold designation.
A 610-seat Performing Arts Center. The Center supports the District’s award-winning arts and music programs, and will serve as a gathering place for community programs and activities. The building also includes a drama studio to allow for smaller group work and performances.
Flexible spaces. Chair and table designs vary, so teachers have limitless design options to allow them to maximize educational options.
Teacher planning spaces. Each floor has dedicated space for that grade’s teachers, allowing teachers to collaborate across disciplines.
Dedicated student entrance. Students are dropped off at the rear of the building, via a bus-only access road. From there, students walk through the arts wing to their class area.
Day lockers. Each floor has a small number of lockers that students may use for the day, and program in their own passcode. This removes lockers from the main hallways, improving access and student flow.
Breakout areas. Each grade area has an open area to facilitate small-group work by students, either independently or with teacher support.
Dore and Whittier designed the new school. Vertex served as owner’s project manager, and W.T. Rich served as construction manager.
The old High School has been demolished, while the old Middle School is in the process of removal. Construction of a front courtyard and permanent parking area continue. Playing fields will be added on the site of the current temporary parking lot. A stadium will be built on the site of the former Junior High School.
The Pentucket Regional School District will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Pentucket Regional Middle-High School on Wednesday, Sept. 14. (Photo Courtesy Pentucket Regional School District)
WEST NEWBURY – Superintendent Justin Bartholomew and the Pentucket Regional School District would like to invite the community to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Pentucket Regional Middle-High School.
WHEN:
Wednesday, Sept. 14, from 4-6 p.m.
WHERE:
Pentucket Regional Middle-High School, 24 Main St.
WHAT:
The Pentucket Regional School District is holding a ceremony to celebrate the opening of the new Middle-High School.
The ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. in the school’s rear courtyard. Following the ceremony, student ambassadors will lead tours.
Parking is limited. Attendees may park in the lot located off Main Street, or in the lot next to the former Middle School site.
The new school officially opened on Tuesday, Sept. 6,with about 970 students. The 211,700-square-foot facility has two wings, one that houses students in Grades 7 and 8 and another that houses Grades 9-12. The wings are joined by a large foyer and dining commons.
The $146.3 million building offers advanced features designed to improve the school’s energy efficiency and learning environment.
A cutting-edge HVAC system and solar roof panels are estimated to save $2 million in energy costs during the next 20 years by reducing the building’s carbon footprint and energy emissions. Students have a dedicated entrance and access to day lockers that will improve student flow. Teachers can utilize flexible learning and planning spaces, as well as breakout areas designated to each grade area, to facilitate and maximize learning opportunities.
The new school also features a 610-seat Performing Arts Center that will support the District’s award-winning arts and music programs as well as community activities.
The new school was designed by Dore and Whittier. Vertex served as owner’s project manager, and W.T. Rich served as construction manager.
WEST NEWBURY – Superintendent Justin Bartholomew and Pentucket Regional Middle School Principal Terry Conant are pleased to report the success of the Middle School Math Team this season.
During the year, students under the direction of Teacher Dan Leonard met regularly to learn about and practice concepts in the five concentrations: Mystery, Geometry, Arithmetic, Number Theory and Algebra. Material covered during team meetings applied, enhanced, and enriched math content provided in their classrooms.
Twelve students participated: eighth-grade students AnnaRose Bissitt, Haley Bruno, Owen Cantone, Ella Gregorio, Madelyn Grimes, and Summer Welper, and seventh-grade students Holden Choma, Lily Kesner, Fiona Moore, Ian Parrott, Lyla Travers, and Devyn Walsh.
Pentucket students performed well in each of the five meets in the Intermediate Math League of Eastern Massachusetts, both as individuals and as a team:
Meet 1: Gregorio and Welper tied for first place among all eighth graders. Moore and Travers tied for second place among all seventh graders.
Meet 2: Kesner took first place among all students. Cantone and Gregorio tied for second place among all eighth graders. Cantone scored perfectly in Algebra, Gregorio scored perfectly in Mystery, and Kesner scored perfectly in both Mystery and Number Theory.
Meet 3: Welper took third place among all eighth graders.
Meet 4: Kesner took first place among all seventh graders, while Moore finished third. Cantone finished in third place among all eighth graders. Kesner scored perfectly in Mystery.
Meet 5: Kesner took first place among all seventh graders, while Parrott took second place. Cantone took third place among all eighth graders. Kesner, Cantone, and Gregorio all scored perfectly in Mystery.
Pentucket finished fourth out of nine teams in their division, competing against students from Amesbury Middle School, Triton Middle School, and other public and private schools in Eastern Massachusetts.
“I believe that all of the students had rewarding experiences and I was very pleased with their performances during the meets,” Leonard said. “Our seventh graders are looking forward to competing again next year.”
“It is exciting to see the students’ hard work and perseverance pay off,” Principal Conant said. “The teamwork and skills they practiced this year will stay with them throughout their educational careers.”
WEST NEWBURY — Chief Michael Dwyer reports that the West Newbury Fire Department and about two dozen mutual aid partners battled a four-alarm house fire early on Saturday evening.
Firefighters responded at 6:47 p.m. to 17 Brown Lane for a report of a fire in an attached garage. First arriving crews found heavy fire in the single-family home and immediately requested a working fire response. This was followed quickly by a second alarm at 6:56 p.m., and then a third alarm at 6:57 p.m., due to both the intensity of the fire and need for additional tankers to provide water for firefighting efforts.
Water availability in the area created extreme challenges. Tankers from eight Massachusetts and New Hampshire communities assisted. A water supply command was established to manage the incoming tankers and ensure that sufficient water was available. A fourth alarm was called at 7:47 p.m. for additional tanker support.
One firefighter was transported by ambulance to an area hospital out of an abundance of caution.
Crews cleared the scene at 11:50 p.m.
Residents of the home have been relocated.
Mutual aid was provided by the Atkinson, N.H., Boxford, East Kingston, N.H., Essex, Georgetown, Groveland, Hampton Falls, N.H., Haverhill, Kensington, N.H., Lawrence, Merrimac, Methuen, Newbury, Newburyport, Newton, N.H., North Hampton, Plaistow, N.H., Rowley, and Salisbury Fire Departments.
The Seacoast Fire Chiefs Mutual Aid District responded with a regional air trailer and a tanker. Atlantic Ambulance Service provided advanced life support ambulance coverage and Tango 2, an incident support unit. The State Department of Fire Services also provided an incident support unit.
The Fire Department also was assisted by West Newbury public safety dispatchers, the West Newbury Police Department, the Department of Public Works, Water Department, and Inspectional Services.
The fire is under investigation by the West Newbury Police Department, West Newbury Fire Department, and State Police attached to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. The cause of the fire does not appear to be suspicious at this time.
Chief Dwyer and the West Newbury Fire Department thank the many responding mutual aid partners and town departments who provided critical additional resources. They also wish to thank Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services for providing food, hydration, and meals on scene.
WEST NEWBURY — Superintendent Justin Bartholomew is pleased to announce several administrative changes for the 2022-2023 school year.
Stephanie Dembro will become Principal at the Donaghue and Sweetsir Schools. She has served as Assistant Principal at both schools. She replaces Ken Kelley, who has served as a principal in the Pentucket District for more than a decade and is leaving for a position in another district. “Mr. Kelley has been absolutely fabulous as a school leader,” Superintendent Bartholomew said. “Ms. Dembro and Mr. Kelley have been an incredible tandem. We are very excited to continue the stability in leadership that the Donaghue and Sweetsir communities deserve.” A search committee will be put together to find a replacement for a new Assistant Principal.
Tara Ellis, currently Special Education Coordinator, will assume the position of Assistant Principal/Special Education Coordinator at Page School.
Brandon Bates will become Assistant Principal at the Middle-High School. Bates comes to the District from the Lawrence Public Schools, where he worked as Ninth Grade Dean of Students at Lawrence High School.
“These changes will help us better provide quality education and support for all of our students,” Superintendent Bartholomew said. “They are passionate about education and improving our District, and I look forward to seeing what our new leadership team will achieve.”
WEST NEWBURY – Superintendent Justin Bartholomew and the Pentucket Regional School Committee wish to share an update about the District’s 2022-2023 budget, and the impact it will have on students, staff, and faculty.
The School Committee unanimously approved a budget of $47,846,000 for the coming school year on Tuesday, May 9. The Committee had requested an additional $1.34 million in spending to cover an ongoing structural deficit between state funding and the actual cost of services.
The District sought increased funding through a Proposition 2 ½ override, which voters in Groveland and Merrimac did not approve.
To close a $1.34 million gap, the School Committee approved Superintendent Bartholomew’s recommended cuts:
General expenses ($528,364)
Reduce HS/MS supplies, $45,864
Stop paying for field trips in Grades 6 and 7, $28,000
Reduce Paraeducators positions by two, $40,000
Reduce athletic teams to two male and two female teams per sport, $25,000
Discontinue a percussion contract, $24,500
Do not hire a human resources manager, $115,000
Reduced the number of special education teachers from six to four, $120,000
Do not hire Tech Repair or Tech Theater support, $85,000
Eliminate special education coordinator days during the summer, $45,000
Increased fees ($325,950)
Increase before-school and after-school programfees by $50 per session, or $110 for both sessions, $160,000 (estimate)
Double athletic fees in effect in the 2020-2021 school year, and eliminate family cap, in the 2022-2023 school year only, $105,950 (Students who have an economic hardship would still be eligible for a waiver.)
Eliminate one bus route, $60,000
Staff reductions ($485,686)
Eliminate one nurse position
Eliminate 1.2 English Language Arts positions (Middle-High School)
Eliminate one Math teaching position (Middle-High School)
Eliminate one Science teaching position (Middle-High School)
Eliminate one Visual Arts teaching position (Middle-High School)
Eliminate a .7 Performing Arts teaching position (Middle-High School)
Eliminate one Physical Education/Wellness teaching position (Middle-High School)
Reduce Art teaching position at Page Elementary School from 1.0 to 0.6
No Library/Media Aide at Bagnall Elementary School
Eliminate one elementary teaching position each at Bagnall Elementary School and Sweetsir Elementary School
“None of this is fair. None of this is good, but it’s where we are,” Superintendent Bartholomew said.
Increased fees and staffing cuts were spread across the District, while attempting to protect elementary grades where development of health, wellness and interpersonal skills are especially critical.
Committee members concurred with the recommendation to not seek a smaller override. A second override would mean a larger number of teachers would receive notification of possible non-renewal on Friday, and create great uncertainty across the District into July.
The spending gap is being driven by a series of factors, including a significant decrease in state funding:
Student transportation costs will increase by more than $500,000 next year. The state does not follow its obligation to fully funding regional school transportation, and actually is cutting Pentucket’s allocation by $144,000 next year.
Pentucket will receive just $67,500 in additional Chapter 70 funding.
While the state promotes its $1.5 billion Student Opportunity Act, the District will receive only $58,000 from the Act next year.
Superintendent Bartholomew and Committee Chair Christopher Markuns of Merrimac recommended that residents and town officials begin working together immediately to find funding solutions for the 2023-2024 budget.
“The state is swimming in extra money, and we’re cutting $1.34 million,” Superintendent Bartholomew said. “The funding formula does not work.”
To see Superintendent Bartholomew’s presentation to the School Committee, click here.
WEST NEWBURY — Interim Police Chief Michael Dwyer is pleased to announce that the West Newbury Police Department, in conjunction with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will once again be participating in National Drug Take Back Day later this month.
National Drug Take Back Day is a biannual, free, no-questions-asked event that gives the community the opportunity to aid in the fight against substance use disorder by disposing of potentially dangerous expired, unwanted or unused prescription drugs. As part of the event, residents can drop off unwanted pills or patches, but not liquids, needles or sharps.
According to the2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, in 2019 alone an estimated 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers, 4.9 million people misused prescription stimulants and 5.9 million people misused prescription tranquilizers or sedatives.
In addition to participating in National Drug Take Back Day twice a year, the West Newbury Police Department is pleased to offer a drug drop-off box in its lobby all year round. The drop-off box was constructed by Whitter Regional Vocational Technical High School students, and it provides residents with 24-hour access to a safe way to dispose of medications.
For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs, about this month’s Take Back Day or for complete results from past Take Back Day events, visit www.DEATakeBack.com.
The 4×200-meter relay team, from left, Sage Smith, Reese Gallant, Emily Rubio, and Sydney Trout. (Photo Courtesy Pentucket Regional School District)
Emily Rubio finished sixth in the girls championship pentathlon, becoming the first Pentucket student-athlete to earn All-American honors. (Photo Courtesy Pentucket Regional School District)
The girls sprint medley relay team, from left, Phoebe Rubio, Sage Smith, Reese Gallant, and Emily Rubio. (Photo Courtesy Pentucket Regional School District)
WEST NEWBURY – Superintendent Justin Bartholomew is pleased to share that Pentucket Regional High School student-athletes scored successes at a national championships recently.
Students participated in the New Balance Indoor Nationals at The Armory in Manhattan, New York, against other top athletes from across the country.
The 4×200-meter relay team – Sydney Trout, Reese Gallant, Sage Smith, and Emily Rubio – finished in 16th place in the Rising Stars” division. Their time of 1:48.33 was a team-best by two seconds.
The girls sprint medley relay team – Emily Rubio, Sage Smith, Reese Gallant, and Phoebe Rubio – finished in 12th place in the Rising Stars division with a time of 4:25.04.
Emily Rubio finished sixth in the girls championship pentathlon with 3,178 points, becoming the first Pentucket student-athlete to earn All-American honors. She also won the high jump event with a jump of 1.67 meters (5 feet, 6 inches).
Phoebe Rubio finished 20th in the Girls Emerging Elite 800-meter race, with a personal best time of 2:23.81
Alex Bishop qualified for Nationals by winning the State Championship with a personal best and school record high jump of 6 feet, 5 inches.
“It is very exciting to have athletes qualify and compete at a national meet,” Coach Steve Derro said. “They worked so hard all season to get to that point and I couldn’t be any prouder of their accomplishments.”
“To have so many athletes qualify for this meet is a testament to the time and effort each one of them has put into the season,” Coach Keith Sherman said. “To watch them compete at this level, and how they represented their team and their community, was excellent to see. As coaches, we are very proud these athletes and their teammates as a whole.”
Senior Alex Pedersen celebrates after receiving his award for a top-six exam score in the Integrated Marketing Campaign-Service Category. (Photo Courtesy Pentucket Regional School District)
From left, Seniors Ava Spencer and Hannah Linehan, and sophomore Helen Burke with their awards during the Grand Awards Ceremony. (Photo Courtesy Pentucket Regional School District)
Sophomore Helen Burke receiving her medallion on stage in the Principles of Business Management and Administration category. (Photo Courtesy Pentucket Regional School District)
From left, seniors Ryan Plisinski, Henry Endyke, Brian Inger, and James Davis after an intense round of the DECA Quiz Bowl. (Photo Courtesy Pentucket Regional School District)
The Pentucket DECA Chapter, with Advisor Madison Estes, left, and Advisor John Moloney. (Photo Courtesy Pentucket Regional School District)
WEST NEWBURY — Superintendent Justin Bartholomew announces that Pentucket Regional High School’s DECA chapter achieved several honors at the 63rd annual Massachusetts DECA State Career Development Conference.
Hannah Linehan, a senior from Merrimac, earned State Champion honors in Financial Consulting. For the second consecutive year, Linehan will represent Pentucket at the International Career Development Conference, being held April 23-26 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Two students finished in the top 12 in their discipline. Senior Ava Spencer of Groveland placed in Financial Consulting, while Sophomore Helen Burke of Groveland placed in Principles of Business Management and Administration. Spencer and Burke earned medallions, and will serve as alternates at the ICDC.
Senior Alex Pedersen of West Newbury earned a medallion for a top-six finish in the written portion of Integrated Marketing Campaign-Service.
DECA, a nonprofit business and marketing student organization, works with high schools and colleges to prepare emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management.
Seventeen Pentucket students were among the more than 3,000 students who competed in about 60 categories during the three-day conference in Boston. Students prepared for the competition after school through activities to hone their business, leadership, and entrepreneurial knowledge.
The Pentucket DECA Chapter is advised by Special Education Teacher Madison Estes and Business Teacher John Moloney. Estes founded the chapter in the 2018-2019 school year.
“Our DECA Chapter has grown every year, and as a District we are proud of what it has achieved in such a short period,” Superintendent Bartholomew said. “We congratulate Hannah for her State Championship, and Ava, Helen, and Alex on their strong performances.”
Estes and Moloney wish to thank faculty, families, and the Pentucket Regional School Committee for their strong support of DECA.
Those interested in learning more about the Pentucket DECA Chapter are encouraged to contact Estes at mestes@prsd.org.
