[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6077290,"mediaKeyId","2965210-da86ba0ab73c252419d34af74a3d659f","parentId",2965210,"title","Committee approves Pitney Bowes lease, accepts grants, OKs field trips, flagpole donation and study of former Barnum Brook tennis courts","audioSeconds",1749,"startMs",3965000,"endMs",5714000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2965210-da86ba0ab73c252419d34af74a3d659f&start=3965&end=5714","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2965210-da86ba0ab73c252419d34af74a3d659f/thumbnail_3965000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6077290/Massachusetts/Committee-approves-Pitney-Bowes-lease-accepts-grants-OKs-field-trips-flagpole-donation-and-study-of-former-Barnum-Brook-tennis-courts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077290-41edc5aca40d4f48b9cdcc04a1b0d0ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181236&Signature=WJYlvg-qkO9fk-mcJyBxNQdZHoCNYoWVKwpeZzAW-vr6oYZMa3cv0bG4S~6yRXSU7sn7dGSwWUYazTWY2VmjNZaUumt71cpDp-pT9G4QeQ8j3dtqrHNR9v33nDsg4aKAKDs0rS3AZ1E2lgFgnhO8Muz3t1BkqhfIbgGO1~WG48ief1Ma26iwDLOPbJbtOAO0-s6hpeKJPatIxJApUKS6U1B7ZXUfwgQ9SKJoQi~D43RDmT-7q~kIq8puSpIjPUjNCjd19XtGfiSu~VR6ycqmPzHSJTMt5su6pE321obz9eO39uzvbsinj4DOu3ROTNLtUVzalAlhxkJTzkgxDCk6Pg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-11T21:47:09.207Z","article","At the April 10 meeting the North Middlesex Regional School Committee approved several operational and program items intended to support student enrichment and campus facilities.

Pitney Bowes postage meter lease
The committee authorized the superintendent to execute a 60‑month lease for the district’s Pitney Bowes postage meter on state contract (OFF 39). Nancy Haines, business manager, said the five‑year option saves roughly $2,500 over the contract term and reduces the monthly lease rate; the motion to authorize the superintendent to sign the contract passed by roll call (monthly payment recorded in the motion as $159.15).

Grants accepted
The committee voted to accept several grants and donations. Superintendent and staff presented the awards and intended uses:
- State Treasurer’s Financial Education Innovation Fund: $3,125 to support a Credit for Life Fair for senior students.
- Mass Farm/Farming Reinforces Education in Student Health grant: $6,500 to enhance the high‑school greenhouse, ventilation and school garden programming.
- 1 8 Foundation grants (multi‑year professional development and materials): open science curriculum grants reported as $33,600 for Hawthorne Brook Middle School and $44,100 for North Middlesex (middle school implementation) and democratic knowledge project (DKP) civic curriculum grants listed as $7,070 for Hawthorne Brook and $12,840 for North Middlesex. (Amounts and school assignments were presented in the meeting packet and read into the record.)

Field trips and student performances
The committee approved two out‑of‑state field trip requests: June 7 choir performance at Delta Dental Stadium (parents will provide transportation; ticket cost about $12 with district assistance available) and a combined band/choir performance and educational visit to Mystic Seaport and Mystic Aquarium. Packets said fundraisers and family contributions would subsidize participation where needed.

Donations and dedications
The committee accepted a donation from the Archambault family for installation of a flagpole and dugout wind wraps at the high‑school softball field and approved a dedication in honor of Frank Archambault. Meeting materials and a letter from Lynn Archambault Dawson explained family fundraising and community booster involvement.

Barnum Brook tennis courts study
Alan Leo, chairman of the Pepperell Recreation Commission, asked the committee to approve an engineering and site plan study of the former Barnum Brook tennis courts to evaluate repurposing (proposed softball fields, pickleball/tennis elsewhere). The commission reported a $15,700 Community Preservation Committee award contingent on school committee approval; the committee approved the study on condition that Pepperell fund the study and notify the district about on‑site work scheduling.

Valley Collaborative and other appointments
Committee member Brad Morgan was reappointed to the Valley Collaborative and Keystone Educational Collaborative boards for 07/01/2025–06/30/2026 by committee vote.

Ending: The committee voted on the operational items by roll call and instructed staff to coordinate logistics for field trips, donation installation and the Pepperell‑funded site study.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","NMRSD School Committee 4/10/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The North Middlesex Regional School Committee on April 10 authorized a five‑year Pitney Bowes postage meter lease, accepted several curriculum and program grants, approved two out‑of‑state student trips, accepted a memorial donation for a high‑school flagpole and approved a town‑funded study for repurposing former tennis courts at Barnum Brook.","taxTitle","North Middlesex Regional School District, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",60734,"location","Massachusetts","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6077293,"North Middlesex approves director of operations, temporary assistant school business manager and a 4% preschool tuition increase amid multi‑million‑dollar short",5303,2833000,8136000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2965210-da86ba0ab73c252419d34af74a3d659f&start=2833&end=8136","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2965210-da86ba0ab73c252419d34af74a3d659f/thumbnail_2833000.jpg","/articles/6077293/Massachusetts/North-Middlesex-approves-director-of-operations-temporary-assistant-school-business-manager-and-a-4-preschool-tuition-increase-amid-multimilliondollar-short","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077293-b520c6476c76fbdbeb635b6ce6d12864/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181236&Signature=fp08HNuHNbo~mf6RfLNFFP5kZV6KSL7fR6XSdyXTDk2N~WxMXTYtStK~4LTDC76MeC9Z1sH~0x6hb476zpi7nhn3-hGPbROcJQpiC0P3vS6LOjwf8-yf~f9-lHxivn8kyHNMOFlP4s0AogXMf5ZKIssYokDh35cnrLLKJxao29HlMydPGx9v0ZCafZd08fMXY2YzDuvXXT9MsRS7oAYMc-LVd3~3Wk74Tuwy~VbOn~pC9c8g9dqifAxf0UUsZashsLzoqlgM2qmrX85Hc8U7zAiDlTbRq~NeqGGZrn~gMUJSqEI7rfDQFtmQSZhNWy7K1jvxbwvDBiSu3V-rgDNqvA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its April 10 meeting the North Middlesex Regional School Committee approved two administrative job descriptions and a proposed tuition change as part of a broader FY 2026 budget process shaped by a multi‑million‑dollar shortfall.

What the committee approved
- Director of Operations and Facilities: The committee voted to approve the job description for the director of operations and facilities, a role that the superintendent said evolved from the district’s former director of technology position after responsibilities shifted to include facilities, security systems and facility use. The committee passed the job description by roll call.

- Assistant School Business Administrator (one‑year, temporary): With School Business Manager Nancy Haines scheduled to reduce to a 0.6 role in FY 2026, the committee approved a one‑year assistant school business administrator position to prepare a successor. The superintendent said no currently licensed candidates applied and that the assistant would enter the Massachusetts Association of School Business Officials licensure program while being mentored by Haines. Administrators said the change is expected to generate an FY 2026 savings of about $58,000 when combined with other staffing shifts.

- Preschool (Squannacook Early Childhood Center) tuition increase: The committee approved a districtwide 4% increase in preschool tuition for FY 2026 and new administrative fees aligned with the extended‑day program — a $30 insufficient funds charge and a late payment fee for payments made more than 10 days past the due date. District staff said the preschool program is an integrated special‑education program that has high fixed costs; they told the committee a 4% increase aligns North Middlesex with comparator districts.

Budget context and reductions
Superintendent Morgan and finance staff framed the approvals in the context of a fiscal shortfall. Morgan reported reductions under consideration for FY 2026 that include: 7 elementary teachers, 1 assistant principal, 2.77 paraprofessionals at the elementary level; 6 middle school teachers and 2 paraprofessionals at the middle level; 3 high school teachers and a districtwide reduction of 2 custodians — a total of 24.37 FTE reductions that staff have proposed as part of the FY 26 plan. Morgan warned that if a 2.25% budget increase option is not supported by towns and state actions, those reductions could rise substantially.

FY 2024 audit: clean opinion but large long‑term liabilities
CBIZ auditor Rebecca Gamsby presented the FY 2024 audit, saying the district received an unmodified (clean) opinion on its financial statements and the single audited federal program (the child nutrition cluster). Key figures the auditor reported from FY 2024 financials included: a general fund fund balance of $6.6 million (about 9.8% of expenditures), an unassigned fund balance of $2.4 million, a capital stabilization fund balance of $671,000, a net OPEB liability of about $89.6 million (after a $1.1 million trust balance) and long‑term debt of $27.7 million. The audit team reported no material weaknesses.

Committee direction and next steps
Committee members approved the job descriptions and tuition increase by roll call votes. Several members urged continued advocacy at the state level for additional school funding and asked staff to return with more detailed analyses of proposed user fees and other revenue options. Finance subcommittee plans were discussed and a FY25 budget transfer motion (detailed in the meeting packet) was approved to realign certain line items.

Ending: The committee said it will continue to weigh staffing, program and fee options as state funding and town support evolve; district administrators were asked to return with more information on activity‑card/user‑fee scenarios and to monitor potential state legislation that could affect FY 2026 funding.

","The school committee approved a formal director of operations job description, created a one‑year assistant school business manager role to train a successor, and voted to raise preschool tuition by 4% as the district plans layoffs and other reductions to address a budget gap.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6077298,"North Middlesex committee gets one-year pause from MSBA on Ashby Elementary decision after community protests",1938,1017000,2955000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2965210-da86ba0ab73c252419d34af74a3d659f&start=1017&end=2955","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2965210-da86ba0ab73c252419d34af74a3d659f/thumbnail_1017000.jpg","/articles/6077298/Massachusetts/North-Middlesex-committee-gets-one-year-pause-from-MSBA-on-Ashby-Elementary-decision-after-community-protests","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6077298-692a2e2132acba1db3ad28bdadf673bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771181236&Signature=N6r~o3wjN-vdt~YwGOn4wuQ8HAzdkmQSRNO6hRBdCgYX5SvqgyGQzrGWX7-toUTXI4p9FZ3ycJmaS58cUgDL5zIuNGRk0udag0WOwfORgLlRy~rjU1JMz7gkLu0Kxv~10dYNk6X7y4y3Lu52KFhIGrgYH-TV5ulVBhXmTB~e2tyQ~9HJK8eQ~OKI9zC-sEYShk2fvxL5wdkQN1ShgRcFlo-5K61HRCDaIn7zr7x0KrWOQ2URuiWfG7RT1vgFk~6aPgcg7aZxO16Sj5gdFpW9ekIbjMJcci4ixANZl6PHGrV7a58Lml7BWIoFvkPawwCdM9DoVkQ2t3y82f3kCR4uVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The North Middlesex Regional School Committee on April 10 said the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) has authorized the district to wait one year before making any permanent decision about Ashby Elementary School, a change that came as several Ashby residents urged the committee to reverse or reconsider plans to take the building offline for FY 2026.

The pause was announced by Superintendent Brad Morgan during his report. Morgan said the district has been “advocating for a 1 year delay in making any permanent decisions” and credited Secretary and Acting Commissioner of Education Patrick Tutweiler for intervening with MSBA so North Middlesex could “wait 1 full year before making any final decisions around Ashby.”

Why it matters: Ashby residents said taking their town’s only elementary school offline has wide effects beyond classroom instruction — on property values, travel time for kindergarteners and community cohesion. Several speakers at the meeting said the combination of a planned consolidation and other proposed budget changes risked pushing families out of town.

Public comment highlights
Chelsea Carr of Ashby, who identified herself as a resident, said the consolidation and proposed fee changes would disproportionately harm Ashby families and questioned district priorities. “So pretty much from my point of view, what you’re saying is screw these kids, screw their education,” Carr told the committee.

Carrie Mahoney Battersby, also of Ashby, addressed the potential elimination or reduction of middle school athletics and new administrative positions on the agenda. Noting a roughly $2,000,000 district deficit cited earlier in the meeting, she said adding administrative roles while cutting programs and asking parents to pay tuition for full-day kindergarten would create “terrible optics.”

Stacy Ochinger of Ashby and other commenters rewatched past meetings and urged the committee to consider alternatives such as temporarily pausing a different school instead of Ashby, arguing that keeping Ashby open for a year could preserve equitable busing and help rural residents.

District response and next steps
Morgan said the district will proceed with consolidation planning for FY 2026 that will take Ashby Elementary offline for the year, but that the pause authorized by MSBA allows the committee time to consider permanent outcomes and explore alternatives. He said a district team is working through logistics for a potential move and that D-B-U-S (transportation) is examining bus routes for the coming school year.

Committee members and the superintendent reiterated calls for continued advocacy at the state level. Committee member Lisa Martin (referred to in the meeting as Miss Martin) and others who testified at the state House Ways and Means hearing were thanked for their work; Morgan encouraged continued constituent outreach to legislators.

No formal reversal: The committee did not reverse prior votes about temporarily taking Ashby offline; rather the MSBA authorization buys a year to avoid making a permanent closure decision immediately.

Ending: With the MSBA delay in place, the committee and district staff said they will use the coming year to explore logistics, costs and alternatives and encouraged continued public engagement and legislative advocacy.

","Public commenters at the April 10 North Middlesex Regional School Committee meeting urged the committee to keep Ashby Elementary open. Superintendent Brad Morgan said the Massachusetts School Building Authority authorized the district to wait one year before making any permanent closure decision.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee approves Pitney Bowes lease, accepts grants, OKs field trips, flagpole donation and study of former Barnum Brook tennis courts

North Middlesex approves director of operations, temporary assistant school business manager and a 4% preschool tuition increase amid multi‑million‑dollar short

North Middlesex committee gets one-year pause from MSBA on Ashby Elementary decision after community protests