Town Government
School Committee & Superintendent
The Superintendent
Daniel E. Gutekanst
About 5,400 Needham students start their day in this district, and one person answers for all of it. Daniel E. Gutekanst has led Needham Public Schools since 2009, one of the longest tenures of any superintendent in Massachusetts. He runs a system of eight schools he now knows from the inside out, and Needham consistently posts some of the highest test scores and graduation rates in the state. The Superintendent proposes the school budget, sets academic priorities, and is hired by and reports to the elected School Committee.
| Role | Superintendent of Schools |
|---|---|
| In office | Since 2009 |
| District office | 1330 Highland Avenue, Needham, MA 02492 |
| Phone | 781-455-0400 |
| Website | needham.k12.ma.us |
The School Committee
Needham’s School Committee has seven members, all elected town-wide to staggered three-year terms at the April town election. The committee sets district policy, approves the school budget, and hires and evaluates the Superintendent who runs the schools day to day. The committee meets in public at the Broadmeadow School, and the meetings are open, which means a Needham student who shows up can speak.
Alisa M. Skatrud
Michael J. Greis
Sri Baqri
Elizabeth Lee
Andrea Longo Carter
Michael E. O’Brien
Matthew Spengler
The District at a Glance
- Enrollment: 5,427 students, PreK through 12.
- Schools: eight, including Needham High School.
- Graduation rate: about 97.9% for the class of 2025.
- State data: DESE profile (code 01990000).
Meetings & Participation
- When: roughly twice a month, with agendas posted on the district website.
- Public comment: residents may address the committee. Check the agenda for sign-up details.
- Watch: meetings are carried on the Needham Channel and available on demand.
- Subcommittees: much of the detailed work on budget, policy, and facilities happens in subcommittees.
Sources
Needham school committee (needham.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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