News Flash

The Amesbury School Committee is pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen J. Zadravec, Ed.D., as the next Superintendent of Amesbury Public Schools. Dr. Zadravec’s employment is scheduled to begin on July 1, pending the successful completion of contract negotiations.

“I am thrilled to be part of the team in Amesbury. I look forward to building on the work of providing excellence in education for all of our students. Amesbury is an amazing place and I am honored to be able to work with the talented staff here and strong leadership team across the schools and the city.”, said, Dr. Zadrvec. 

Dr. Zadravec is a proven educational leader with extensive experience in district leadership, strategic planning, curriculum development, and collaborative community engagement. He currently serves as Superintendent of School Administrative Unit (SAU) 50 in Greenland, New Hampshire, where he has guided multiple districts through strategic visioning, long-term financial planning, and expanded professional development opportunities for educators.

Previously, Dr. Zadravec served as Superintendent of the Portsmouth School Department in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he led district-wide initiatives focused on equity and opportunity, implemented later school start times for secondary students, supported major school construction and renovation projects, and collaborated closely with municipal leaders to develop fiscally responsible budgets. His leadership also included participation in statewide education initiatives supporting early childhood development and the needs of military-connected students.

In addition to his district leadership, Dr. Zadravec has served as an adjunct professor in educational leadership, teaching graduate and doctoral students and helping to prepare the next generation of school administrators. His career in education began in the classroom as a middle and high school mathematics teacher before advancing through roles including curriculum coordinator, interim principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent.

“Amesbury Public Schools will benefit greatly from Dr. Zadravec’s thoughtful leadership, collaborative approach, and unwavering commitment to student success,” said Amesbury School Committee Chair and Mayor, Kassandra Gove. “We look forward to welcoming him to the Amesbury community and working together to continue strengthening our schools.” Mayor Gove also went on to say, “We would also like to thank current Superintendent Elizabeth McAndrews for her service to our schools and the children of Amesbury, and we wish her well as she transitions to the next phase of her life.” 

Dr. Zadravec holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Educational Leadership, and a Master of Education in Educational Administration and Supervision. He also earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and Social Science, graduating cum laude. He maintains multiple professional certifications, including Superintendent, Principal, and Assistant Superintendent credentials in the State of New Hampshire.

Dr. Abigail Jurist Levy, School Committee Member and Co-Chair of the Search Committee said, “Amesbury as a great place to live, work, and raise a family, along with our community pride and the promise of our school district, was on full display in attracting top talent to our Superintendent search. It was important to the School Committee to have a rigorous, inclusive, and transparent hiring process for this vital role and the city can be proud of the numerous, highly qualified, candidates that applied for the Superintendent position. Many people in our district and across Amesbury contributed to the search process and we thank them for their time and effort. Dr. Zadravec can feel confident he has the support of our community.”

Amesbury, MA — The City of Amesbury announces that a Request for Proposal (RFP) is now available for the city-owned former Amesbury Elementary School, located at 24 South Hampton Road. The RFP outlines development objectives that include removal of the existing school structure, new housing comprised of multiple structures that accommodates a variety of housing types, sizes, and configurations along with shared park and gathering spaces. 

“This is a tremendous milestone for us and the neighborhood. We have worked hard to strike a balance with this property and what it has to offer. It’s important to me that we retain recreation and open space for the neighborhood while putting some of the property back on the tax rolls. I’m hopeful we see interest from the development community and find the right partner to make this happen”, said Mayor Gove.

 In July 2025, as part of a land use and redevelopment assessment process administered by the Office of Community and Economic Development, the Mayor submitted Council Bill 2025-082 requesting authorization to dispose, by sale, of an approximately four-acre portion of the 14-acre City-owned parcel at 24 South Hampton Road, in accordance with Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 30B, Section 16.

At the same time, the Mayor introduced Council Bill 2025-083 to amend the Amesbury Zoning Map. The amendment rezoned two portions of the former school property from Open Space Conservancy (Municipal) to Residence 8 (R-8) to support future housing opportunities. After the passing of that bill the property is now rezoned to R-8, consistent with adjacent zoning.

Note: Image is of preferred development plan for 24 South Hampton Road and is not an actual submitted plan.

One portion of the parcel is approximately 4- acres in size and has frontage along 24 South Hampton Road. This includes the former Elementary School and its associated modular classrooms, playground, and driveway area. The second portion is approximately ¼ acres in size and has frontage on Rowell Street.

The remaining nearly 10-acre portion of the property will be retained by the City for the purposes of maintaining trail connections, open space, and public recreation opportunities.

Senior Project Manager for the city, Howard Snyder said, “Redevelopment of the former Amesbury Elementary School parcel for residential purposes will be transformative for the neighborhood and the Amesbury community as a whole. Aims of the project that include architectural design, variable housing type and site layout are considerations intended to balance housing needs with thoughtful integration into the city’s fabric.”

The City has established a minimum bid price of $1,000,000. The property’s FY2025 assessed value is $7,663,400. The RFP will be available for pick-up from the Procurement and Liability Manager, Administration and Finance Department, Room 215 at 1 Market Street, City Hall, Amesbury MA 01913 during regular business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, and 8:00 a.m. to noon on Friday, excluding holidays. 

The RFP is also available for download at www.amesburyma.gov/Bids.aspx.

It is recommended that interested parties attend a pre-application site visit that will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 16, 2026. Questions will be accepted during the site visit and via email. Responses will be issued by addendum.

All questions regarding the RFP must be submitted in writing via email to Senior Project Manager, Howard Snyder, at snyderh@amesburyma.gov no later than 4:00 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026.

Riverwalk Connector Mass DOT Public Hearing

MassDOT will conduct a public hearing to provide the public with the opportunity to become fully acquainted with the proposed Amesbury - Riverwalk Connector to the Salisbury Point Ghost Trail project.

Tuesday January 6, 2026, at 7:00 PM

Shay Elementary School193R Lions Mouth RoadAmesbury, MA 01913 Cafeteria

For more information, please read the event flyer. 

The City of Amesbury FY26 Adopted Budget Book is now available for viewing. There are two versions:  • Print Version- Higher quality for printing

 • Web Version- Lower quality for viewing online

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