Dear APS families and staff, 

We would like to thank our community for their steadfast support at this year’s Annual Town Meeting. Each article on the Warrant that would have an impact on our district passed with the support of voters earlier this week, including the town’s FY24 budget.  

The FY24 school department budget reflects strategic thinking, efficiencies and careful planning that maximize the benefit to students and support to educators in providing innovative and challenging instruction for all. This budget meets all contractual obligations and is balanced with a regard for fiscal responsibility on behalf of Andover residents and businesses who primarily fund the personnel costs and operational expenditures needed to operate the Andover Public Schools. 

With each budget process in the last several years, the District has taken time to analyze fees, looking for opportunities to reduce the financial burden incurred by our families. This practice began showing benefits in the 2017-18 school year (FY18), with annual reductions in full-day kindergarten tuition until eliminated completely in the 2020-21 school year (FY21).  The FY23 budget eliminated the middle school extracurricular fee and reduced the individual/family bus fee for students.

One area we are particularly proud of in the FY24 school budget is the opportunity to   continue the practice of reducing student fees for families. The school department has a proposal for additional fee reductions in the 2023-24 school year: a further reduction in the bus fee, elimination of middle school and high school transcript fees, and elimination of high school class materials fees. This proposal is scheduled for review and vote at this evening’s School Committee meeting. 

We are appreciative for the commitment of our district’s staff, the School Committee, and our Town of Andover staff and officials for their work on behalf of our students and their families. Above all, we thank you, the residents of Andover for your continued commitment to an exceptional education for Andover students. The district’s partnership with the community is a critical piece of providing our children with the resources and opportunities needed for lifelong learning.

Magda Parvey, Ed. D., Superintendent, Andover Public Schools

Susan McCready, Outgoing Chair, Andover School Committee