City Government
School Committee & Superintendent
The Superintendent
Jon Thompson
Jonathan “Jon” Thompson runs the Fitchburg Public Schools, appointed permanently in November 2023 after a stretch as interim leader. He has spent more than a decade in the district, climbing from assistant principal to principal to assistant superintendent before taking the top job, which is part of why the choice to make him permanent was unanimous. He leads an urban district of about 5,300 students who speak many languages and come from across the world. The Superintendent does not answer to the Mayor or the Council. He is hired by, and reports to, the School Committee.
| Role | Superintendent of Schools |
|---|---|
| In office | Permanent since November 2023 |
| District office | 376 South Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420 |
| Phone | 978-345-3200 |
| Website | fitchburg.k12.ma.us |
The School Committee
The Fitchburg School Committee is the elected body that governs your schools, and it is the rare seat of power a high school student can watch shape their own day. The Mayor chairs it, and the rest of its members are elected by the city’s voters to staggered terms. Together they set district policy, adopt the school budget, and hire and evaluate the Superintendent. Mayor Samantha Squailia serves as chair, and Peter V. Stephens serves as vice chair.
For the full current membership and term dates, see the live School Committee roster at fitchburgma.gov.
The District at a Glance
- Enrollment: about 5,300 students, PreK to grade 12, across eight schools.
- High school: Fitchburg High School, which runs a career and technical education program alongside its academics.
- Diversity: families speak many languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Hmong, and Arabic. About four in ten students come from homes where the first language is not English.
- State data: DESE district profile for Fitchburg (code 00970000).
Meetings & Participation
- When: at least once a month, with agendas posted ahead of time on the city’s Agenda Center.
- Public comment: residents can address the Committee directly. Check the agenda for how to sign up.
- Watch: meetings air on Fitchburg Access Television (FATV) and stream online.
- Student voice: a Student Advisory Committee gives high-schoolers a standing seat in the conversation.
Sources
Fitchburg school committee (fitchburg.k12.ma.us). Verified July 2026.
What this seat decides
Your schools
School Committee. Start times, the school calendar, bus routes and stops, the phone policy, athletics and activity fees, and anything in the student handbook. It sets district policy, and the total size of the school budget is voted by Town Meeting, or by your Mayor and Council in a city.
Your principal and your superintendent. The principal for how a school rule works day to day in your building. The superintendent for how the whole district runs. The School Committee hires exactly one employee, the superintendent, so a question about any other staff member goes to the district, not to the board.
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