Since 2015, this population has grown from 23% to 33% of our total student body. Because these students often require specialized instruction, mental health support, or legally mandated services, we cannot simply reduce our staff in proportion to the total number of students. In fact, to provide a safe and effective learning environment, we must increase our number of specialized support positions even as the total number of students in the buildings goes down.
AB Forward: Reorganizing for Stability
The FY27 budget implements a significant reorganization of our elementary schools. This plan allows us to: ● Consolidate Resources: By closing a school building (Conant) and reducing our administrative footprint, we are "right-sizing" the district to match current enrollment. ● Protect Student Support: The savings from these closures are being reinvested directly into students. We are adding elementary counselors for mental health and increasing staffing for Special Education and Multilingual learners. ● Fiscal Responsibility: This budget eliminates the use of "Excess and Deficiency" (reserve) funds for daily operations, ensuring we don't spend our emergency savings on recurring costs. The proposed budget uses reserve funds for two purposes: one-time costs associated with this reorganization, and as a buffer in the event the state does not provide the level of aid anticipated.
The New Elementary Model
Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year (FY27), the district will move from operating six elementary schools across four buildings down to five elementary schools in 3 buildings . Under the AB Forward plan, we are closing the Luther Conant building. However, we are not simply "losing" a school; we are merging communities to create a more sustainable and better-supported environment. The new model also moves away from the district’s K-6 schools to campuses organized by lower (K-3) and upper (4-6) schools in Acton. The reorganized elementary level will consist of the following five schools:
1. Blanchard Memorial School (K-6) 2. Boardwalk Lower School (K-3) 3. Boardwalk Upper School (4-6) 4. Parker Damon Lower School (K-3) 5. Parker Damon Upper School (4-6)
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