Candidate Profile: Andrew McDevitt, N. Andover School Committee

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — North Andover will have two contested races in the March 30 town election: School Committee and Board of Selectmen. North Andover Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles over the coming weeks.

Andrew McDevitt is running for re-election the School Committee. There are five people running for two available seats. McDevitt, the sole incumbent, faces Rebecca Stronck, Pamela Pietrowski, David Brown and Joe Hicks.

McDevitt works in healthcare and has been on the School Committee since 2012.

Are you running for office in North Andover? Contact Christopher Huffaker at chris.huffaker@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate profile and submitting campaign announcements to North Andover Patch.

Previously on Patch: North Andover Town Election Update: 10 Candidates On Ballot

Andrew McDevitt

Age (as of Election Day)

49

Position Sought

School Committee

Family

Wife Elizabeth for 20 years, Matthew (16), John (14), & Rachel (13). North Andover residents for 16 years.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No.

Education

Emory University, 1993 Bachelors in English-History

Occupation

Director, Advisory Services @ athenahealth (24 years in healthcare)

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

School Committee, since 2012

Why are you seeking elective office?

We all have a vested interest in the education of our children. As a resident, I continue to look for accountability of the budget. The past year has most certainly been a challenge for all families. Every family has different experiences and truly personal perspectives. My job has been, and will continue to be if re-elected, to listen to as many perspectives as possible and use that to make my decision/vote.

This past year, I again worked to negotiate with the teacher’s union. Upon completion of their 3-year contract, we quickly began to renegotiate a return to school. You might remember the union picketing at a SC meeting and many letters from teachers regarding not returning to school. In the end, we were successful in our return to school plan. This involved ensuring safety of the buildings, proper spacing, sanitizing protocol, and adherence to CDC and Board of Health regulations to name a few points. This nearly nightly negotiations started in July and continued into September. During the summer, as a School Committee we approved for hybrid, full-day classes for our students. As we have begun 2021, I have been advocating for increased learning time for our students, especially at our youngest grades. The guidelines are changing, and we need changes as well. I hope you allow me to continue to fight and advocate for the best for our town, community and most importantly our students. As we return to school, I will also advocate for the support our students and teachers need.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Return to school. It is paramount that we return to school for the education and mental health of our students and faculty. Teacher vaccination will be a significant opportunity for this to happen. We have been actively working to bring the vaccine to NA teachers, faculty, & staff so we can help them ensure access.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Experience. As we return to school, experience matters. I've negotiated 3 teacher contracts as well as a return to school MOU this summer. While teachers and MTA members were protesting a "not until it's safe" approach to Fall 2020, I was worked every day in the summer with the union to return safely for students and staff. I've made the difficult decisions regarding returning to school in a hybrid format and have been an advocate for a safe return this spring.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

Knowledge of the virus has changed dramatically since it first closed schools in March 2020. We modified guidelines, safety protocols, and recommendations as data has changed. We've worked with local and state Departments of Public Health as well local physicians and nurses. There is constant communication between the Board of Health and the NA School Administration. While we might be considered too cautious, the well being of our faculty and students is paramount in my decision making.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

As we return to classrooms, what is going to be critical are two key components - building on the educational foundation and catching students up academically and addressing social and emotional issues. We cannot simply toss funds at the problem. (It's the reason I voted against the budget - for lack of detail) We need to know where the gaps are, and provide teachers and students with the right tools to succeed. It might be smaller group learning and it might be an different approach to learning. It will vary by school, grade, and student. We need to review the data and have a thoughtful plan. Regarding social and emotional learning, students are going to need time to just be together. They are missing the connections with each other and their teachers. We need to allow for this development. However, there are students with significant concerns and fears. We need guidance counselors, nurses and staff trained to help these students and provide referrals/parental meetings when appropriate.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I've been a strong and vocal advocate for the students of North Andover. In working and building relationships with the union, we returned to school safely in the fall of 2021. With vaccinations on the horizon, we will return to 5 days/week in person learning in April. I have always acted in good faith, transparent, and in partnership with the community.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Regarding this position, to never forget that I am a servant of the public and an advocate for the children of the community. And that if data or circumstances change, it is OK to change course.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I will continue to work tirelessly for the betterment of our town and our school community.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.