Brooks School Gives $10,000 to Town for School Computers

After agreeing to help the town’s for Sunday evening’s fireworks show, has made an additional $10,000 donation towards new computer equipment in the North Andover Public Schools.

“When we are able, we like to do what we can for North Andover especially when the donation is closely related to our own mission as an educational institution,” said Brooks School Communication Director Daniel Callahan.

The 365-student private boarding high school pays no real estate taxes to the town on the value of its 251-acre campus located on the shore of Lake Cochichewick because as an exempt non-profit educational institution.

The two recent donations totalling $25,000 came about this spring when former North Andover Town Manager Mark Rees got a call from Head of Schools John R. Packard, who invited Rees and Assistant Town Manager Ray Santilli up to campus for lunch.

“When we sat down in the dining room they said to us, ‘Could you use some money? We’d like to give you $25,000,’ to which Mark suggested $15,000 for the fireworks right off,” Santilli recalled. “North Andover would not being having a fireworks show this weekend were it not for this donation and another $7,500 which Wheelabrator has given the town.”

Santilli said Brooks School officials suggested the other portion of their gift be used for school computer equipment.

School Committee Chair Christine Allen, in announcing the donation for school computer equipment at Tuesday night’s School Committee meeting, said the donation was timely.

“We are very grateful to Brooks because our technology budget is woefully underfunded,” Allen said.

School officials haven’t decided exactly how best to use the donation as Superintendent Christopher Hottel has not had the chance to discuss with his staff where the donation is most needed, Allen said.

“We just know Brooks has earmarked their gift for computers, and we will use it wisely,” Allen said.

Callahan said he didn’t have a record of the school’s recent donations to North Andover at his fingertips but pointed out that in addition to the recent monetary contribution, Brooks gives free ice time in its skating rink during the winter months for the town’s recreational skating program.

Additionally, Santilli recalled Brooks had donated the cost of a new police cruiser to the town a couple years ago.