Hathaway School moving to Swampscott

SWAMPSCOTT-At its meeting Tuesday, the School Committee unanimously approved a request from Hathaway School, a small private school, to operate in the town of Swampscott.The Hathaway School, which is currently located at 374 Broadway St. in Lynn, will be moving to St. John the Evangelist in Swampscott.Superintendent Matthew Malone explained the state Department of Education requires a private school obtain approval of the school community in the community it operates in.School Committee members Shelley Sackett and David Whelan visited the school last week and both said they had a favorable impression of the school.?I was very impressed,” Sackett said. “I got to see work, look over curriculum and books. A lot of good things are going on at the school.”Whelan said one thing he noticed is the students seemed very happy. The school is owned and operated by the husband/wife team of Mark Hathaway, who is the business manager, and Joanne Civitarese, who is the principal.?We’ve outgrown our existing facility,” Hathaway said. “We’re very, very excited about continuing to grow.”Hathaway said the school currently serves 30 children in kindergarten through third grade, 27 preschoolers and 30 children in its after-school program.Hathaway said the school is relocating because it has outgrown its current facility in Lynn and needs more space to expand its programs including adding an additional grade next year. The school has already signed a three -year lease with a three-year option with St. John’s and it hopes to occupy the facility as of Dec. 1.Malone said it is his understanding the School Committee would be responsible for approving the curriculum and issuing a letter granting the school status each year.