Whittier Regional Technical School Committee Advances Shared Campus Project Amid Financial Literacy Initiative

Overview: The Whittier Regional Technical School Committee meeting was marked by developments, including the advancement of a shared campus project with Northern Essex Community College (NECC) and a series of student-led presentations on financial literacy. The committee discussed the importance of financial education for students entering the workforce and deliberated on funding strategies for a new feasibility study essential for the shared campus initiative.

Newbury Finance Committee Debates $400,000 Override for School Funding Amid Budget Constraints

Overview: The Newbury Finance Committee meeting largely focused on the implications of a proposed $400,000 override to fully fund educational assessments for the Triton, Whittier, and Essex North agricultural and technical schools.

Newbury Conservation Commission Scrutinizes Environmental Impacts of Key Development Projects

Overview: In an extensive meeting, the Newbury Conservation Commission addressed various environmentally significant projects, focusing on plans impacting local dune ecosystems, parking configurations, and stormwater management. The gathering spotlighted the complexities of balancing development with environmental preservation, particularly in sensitive coastal areas.

Newbury Human Resource Board Considers Overhauling Job Classification System Amid Growing Concerns

Overview: In a recent meeting, the Newbury Human Resource Board focused on discussions regarding personnel updates, the potential adoption of a new job classification system, and the importance of regular reviews of job descriptions to maintain competitiveness and equity within the town’s employment practices. These discussions were framed by concerns about subjectivity in evaluations and the need for alignment with market conditions.

Newbury Select Board Faces Community Backlash Over Strict Flag Policy

Overview: In a recent meeting, the Newbury Select Board faced community pushback against its flag policy, which restricts the display of flags on town property to only specific government-approved flags. The policy, adopted in January 2024, limits flags to the United States flag, the Massachusetts state flag, the Newbury town flag, and the National League of Families POW/MIA flag, and was influenced by a Supreme Court decision differentiating between private and government speech on municipal property. This policy led to the removal of rainbow flags from the Bfield Community Arts Center, prompting a heated discussion during the public comment section of the meeting.