MERSD Newsletter

I am excited to announce that MERSD has launched its search for our next Middle School Principal!

The Middle School Principal serves as the instructional leader and culture builder for a school community educating students at a pivotal stage of their development. The principal establishes clear expectations and fosters a supportive, engaging environment that promotes both academic growth and students’ social and emotional well-being. The Manchester Essex Regional School District is seeking a dynamic and innovative instructional leader with a compelling vision for middle school education and a demonstrated ability to lead teaching and learning, and work in partnership with staff, families, and the community.

Timeline

Posting Opens - December 15th
Feedback Sessions & Paper Review - Week of January 26th
Initial Interviews - February 2nd - February 10th
Finalist Interviews - Begin Week of February 23rd
Appointment Anticipated - Week of March 9th

How to Get Involved

Search Committee: If you are interested in serving on the search committee, please email Amy LeJeune (lejeunea@mersd.org) for details about the schedule and time commitments and to indicate your interest in volunteering. Please know that if we have more volunteers than the available seats on the committee participants will be chosen by lottery.

Composition of the Search Committee

Three teacher representatives
Three parent representatives
Three representatives from the District Leadership Team

During the finalist extended interviews, there will be time allotted for meetings with all constituent groups.

Survey & Feedback Groups: I hope you will take the time to fill out our brief survey and consider attending one of the community focus group sessions to share your feedback.

Principal Search Survey
Feedback Sessions

Faculty Focus Group: January 28th @ 2:30 p.m. – Middle High School Learning Commons & Virtual
Parent & Community Focus Group: January 28th @ 3:45 p.m. – Middle High School Learning Commons & Virtual

(Please RSVP Here)

This is an exciting time for MERSD, and I hope you will consider lending your voice to the process of filling this key leadership role.

AI Family Education Forum: January 14TH

MERSD would like to invite families to join us on Wednesday, January 14th at 6 p.m. to learn more about how to support their children in the new and quickly expanding AI landscape.

January Health/PE Activity Calendars

Check out the latest health and physical education calendars from SHAPE America for activities your children can do throughout the month:

As planning continues for the future of Essex Elementary School, the District continues to move through the Feasibility Study process and remains on track to present a Preferred Schematic Design option in Spring 2026.

This work builds on a needs assessment conducted in November 2022 by Habeeb & Associates, which found that Essex Elementary—originally opened in 1957—has exceeded its functional life and faces significant structural and programmatic limitations. In 2023, the District was admitted into the Eligibility Phase of the grant process through the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA), formally launching this planning effort.

What is the Feasibility Study?

The purpose of the Feasibility Study is to:

Explore potential sites and design options
Identify viable paths forward
Analyze the pros and cons of each option
Select a preferred option for high-level schematic design and cost estimation

As part of this process, the District submitted a Preliminary Design Program (PDP) at the beginning of January. This is first required progress report to the MSBA. The PDP outlines three types of options that all districts must consider:

Renovation only
Renovation with additions
New construction

Each of these options is being examined across the grade-level configurations identified in the Feasibility Study Agreement.

What Happens Next?

From January through March, the Essex School Building Committee (ESBC) will continue its detailed review of options and work to narrow them to a single Preferred Schematic Design (PSD). This recommended option will then be submitted to the MSBA for approval and, if accepted, will advance into further design development and refined cost estimates. The overarching goal is to identify a solution that is educationally sound, fiscally responsible, and aligned with MERSD’s long-term educational vision.

Community Input and Engagement

Community voice is a critical part of this process. The ESBC will continue to host Community Meetings to share updates and gather feedback as the work progresses.

📍Our next Community Meeting will take place on January 28th

This session will provide an update on the Feasibility Study, including the options currently under review, and offer an opportunity for questions and community feedback. In addition to Community Meetings, the public is always welcome to attend regular ESBC business meetings to follow the work and share input. As we continue this important partnership with the MSBA, we are committed to keeping the community well informed, engaged, and involved throughout the Feasibility and Schematic Design phases.

📅Upcoming Meetings

The following School Building Committee and Community Meetings have been scheduled. Unless otherwise noted, all meetings will be held at Essex Elementary School and will be available in person and online.

January 28, 2026 - Community Meeting & Building Tour - Building Tours Begin 4:30 p.m.
School Building Committee Meeting 6:00 p.m.
February 9, 2026 - School Building Committee Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
February 24, 2026 - School Building Committee Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
March 10, 2026 - School Building Committee Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
March 24, 2026 - School Building Committee Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
April 14, 2026 - School Building Committee Meeting, 6:00 p.m.
April 16, 2026 - Community Meeting & Building Tour - Building Tours Begin 4:30 p.m.
School Building Committee Meeting 6:00 p.m.
April 28, 2026 - School Building Committee Meeting, 6:00 p.m.

Community members are encouraged to attend, ask questions, and stay engaged as the project continues to move forward.

For more information about the Essex Elementary School Building Project, or to view meeting recordings, presentations, and project documents, click here.

For a full overview of phases as part of the MSBA process, click here.