Option 5v2 (Hybrid Grade-Band Model)
Framed as a "systemic reset," this is the overwhelming preference of the district's senior leadership. The model reorganizes the Acton schools into K-3 Lower and 4-6 Upper schools across the Boardwalk and Parker Damon (PDB) campuses , while Blanchard remains a K-6 school. Leadership's rationale is that this is the most "equitable disruption," as it creates a "fresh start" where all communities are rebuilt together. This structure is seen as the most instructionally sound path forward, allowing for targeted instruction, enhanced staff collaboration, and the creation of new, inclusive communities free from historical divisions.
Option 6 (Create 3 Large K-6 Schools)
This option represents the most extreme structural change, dissolving all six existing school identities to create three large K-6 schools. Two of these schools would approach 1,000 students each. While acknowledged for its high financial efficiency, district leadership reached a strong consensus that this "mega school" model is the "least optimal choice." It was viewed as detrimental to student wellbeing, destructive to the small-school community connection valued by families, and unsustainable for building-level leadership. Each of these pathways leads to a viable three-building configuration, but the transformative grade-band model—Option 5v2—requires a secondary decision regarding student enrollment. 5.0 Pivotal Decision Point: Enrollment Models for Option 5v2 For the systemic reorganization proposed in Option 5v2, a secondary but critical decision is required to determine how students will be assigned to the new grade-banded schools. This choice significantly influences the level of district-wide disruption. The source documents present three competing implementation choices for this option: 1. Geography-Based Framework: This model would establish primary attendance areas and "flex zones" to balance enrollment, promote walkability, and maintain district flexibility. Student assignment would be guided primarily by residency. 2. One-Time Complete Re-Lottery: This approach would require all current K-5 (or K-4) students to re-enroll and participate in a district-wide lottery. Families would rank their school preferences, and placement would be determined by a lottery that accounts for specific priorities like specialized programs and residency. 3. Re-Assignment of Conant Students: This model is the least disruptive enrollment path for Option 5v2. It limits the scope of reassignment by having only students from the closed Conant building participate in a lottery for placement in the new schools, while other school populations are largely kept whole within their new grade-banded structures.
These enrollment choices add a crucial layer of detail to the strategic decision facing the committee, directly shaping how the systemic change is experienced by families.
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