October 2025 Update

I want to take a moment to express my sincere appreciation for the energy your children bring to our schools every day. It is a privilege to lead a district with such talented staff, dedicated parents, and exceptional students.

I am continually inspired by the commitment to excellence demonstrated by everyone in our community. This is clearly reflected in the fantastic news that Needham has been ranked the #1 district in Massachusetts for accountability based on the 2025 MCAS scores (see below for more information). What a wonderful achievement that speaks volumes about the collective effort here in Needham!

Please take a few moments to review important information on school meals, the Pollard Middle School, and the full 2025 Performance Report.

Your feedback is always welcome!

Sincerely,

Daniel E. Gutekanst, Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

dan_gutekanst@needham.k12.ma.us

We want to remind families that free, nutritious breakfast and lunch are available to all students every school day. Please encourage your student to take advantage of our daily menu offerings.

For families seeking more support we would like to share the following resources:

• Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline: https://projectbread.org/foodsource-hotline

• Needham Community Council Food Pantry

• Family Counseling: Needham Youth & Family Services

We are committed to helping every student have access to the meals and support they need.

Join us in person at Pollard Middle School (200 Harris Ave) for our second Open House with tours and Q&A on Saturday, November 15, at 9:00am. Childcare will be available.

For more information on the Pollard Middle School Project and to receive important updates, please sign up for our mailing list via the project website. You'll also find future meeting dates, FAQs, project documents, and much more. tinyurl.com/NPSPollardProject

It's time to ensure Pollard Middle School has the modern facilities it deserves; get the details on the critical building project and upcoming community meetings: Superintendent’s Blog

I'm excited to announce that you can find me on social media. Follow along for updates and more:

• Instagram: @NeedhamPublicSchools
• Bluesky: @NeedhamSchools.bsky.social
• X (formerly Twitter): @NPS_Supt
• Facebook: @NPSSchoolCommittee