The School Board received a detailed update on district priorities for the 2026–2027 school year at its most recent meeting, with Superintendent Dan Black outlining several initiatives that will shape academic programming, student support, and facility improvements in the coming year. The briefing followed the passage of multiple warrant articles in March, giving the district the resources needed to move forward on a number of long planned efforts.
One of the district’s major areas of focus will be student attendance, an issue that has drawn increasing attention statewide. Black told the Board that the District Wide Leadership Team has been reviewing research and best practices to strengthen attendance policies and interventions. “Our District Wide Leadership Team have been studying resources and approaches to school attendance,” Black said. “We will be proposing updates to how we handle attendance this summer and will layer on this important topic to each of the goals of our schools.” The district expects to bring forward revised attendance procedures before the start of the next school year.
A second major priority is the launch of Lancer Academy at Londonderry High School, which will open as the school transitions from four houses to three. The Academy is designed to expand alternative pathways for students, including career connected learning, flexible credit options, and the updated 20credit diploma program. “LHS is busy preparing to shift to three houses while at the same time building our new Lancer Academy,” Black said. He noted that longtime Assistant Principal Katie Sullivan has been appointed director and that the district will hire an additional non-affiliated staff member to oversee the diploma program.
Black said Sullivan and the high school leadership team will also be gathering student input this spring to help shape the Academy’s early offerings. “They will be gathering data from students this spring on the Career Connected Learning they want us to build in the coming years,” he said, adding that student voice will play a central role in determining which partnerships and programs the district pursues.
At Londonderry Middle School, the administration is undertaking a comprehensive review of the master schedule. Black said the goal is to make better use of instructional time and strengthen academic support blocks. “Right now the leadership team and group of staff are re-looking at how we use time at LMS,” he said. “I support the creation of longer learning periods, the updating of a better intervention block for academic needs, and other updates they are working on.” The district expects to present an updated schedule within the next few months.
Black also highlighted ongoing efforts to improve math outcomes in grades 6 through 12. “Both LHS and LMS Math Departments are working very hard right now to improve outcomes for the SAT and NHSAS this spring,” he said. “Based on this year we will continue our multi-year push to achieve higher results.” The district has been monitoring math performance closely and plans to continue targeted support and curriculum adjustments.
In addition to academic priorities, the Board reviewed a facilities proposal involving the North School bleachers, which are scheduled for replacement due to age and deterioration. The project was included in the FY2027 Buildings and Grounds Capital Reserve, approved by voters on March 10.
The district received three bids:
- A+ Athletics – $30,500
- Dave Ayotte & Associates – $34,141
- Robert H. Lord Co. – $31,002
After reviewing the proposals and speaking with all three companies, the Director of Buildings and Grounds recommended Robert H. Lord Co., citing the company’s ability to meet the district’s tight summer installation window. The bid includes removal of the existing bleachers and installation of the new system. Work is expected to begin after July 1, 2026, and will be fully funded through the Capital Reserve.
The School Board unanimously approved the recommendation, clearing the way for the project to move forward.