Andover residents could get their clearest picture yet of how the town might pay for a new or renovated high school.

The Select Board voted Tuesday, July 14, to make a detailed financing plan due by Nov. 1 one of Town Manager Andrew Flanagan's official performance goals, ensuring the report is completed before officials decide how to move the long-debated high school project forward.

"The mistake last time was that financing became an afterthought," board member Alex Vispoli said during the workshop, referencing the town's previous school-building effort.

The report is expected to outline financing options, potential Massachusetts School Building Authority funding, project timelines, interim costs, and recommendations for next steps.

The deadline comes at a pivotal moment. The School Committee is expected to choose a preferred path for the high school before the January 2027 Town Meeting warrant deadline, making the financial analysis a key piece of the puzzle.

The Nov. 1 target isn't entirely new. The School Committee approved the same deadline in March, but Tuesday's vote makes the report an official benchmark used to evaluate Flanagan's job performance.

The debate also highlighted broader concerns about the town's finances. Board member Kevin Coffey pushed for measurable goals to reduce Andover's long-term debt, arguing that lowering debt payments would free up money for future projects. While no action was taken on those proposals, Flanagan said they would remain part of the discussion.

The high school project has been years in the making. Voters rejected a $450 million replacement proposal in 2023, opting instead to fund planning for a scaled-back alternative. The School Committee is now preparing to seek state building assistance through the MSBA, a process that could help offset costs but would stretch the timeline for any new construction.

Under the current schedule, residents likely wouldn't vote on project funding until around 2028, with construction and a new or renovated school still years away.

For now, the town's next major milestone is Nov. 1, when taxpayers are expected to get their first comprehensive look at what the next chapter for Andover High School could cost—and how the town might pay for it.