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North Middlesex committee votes to opt out of school choice for 2025–26
Summary
The North Middlesex Regional School District school committee voted to opt out of the stateschool choice program for 2025—6, citing budget uncertainty and classroom capacity concerns. The committee heard questions from members and residents before approving the opt-out by roll call.
The North Middlesex Regional School District school committee voted to opt out of the Massachusetts school choice program for the 2025—6 school year after a public hearing and discussion on Feb. 6.
Superintendent Brad Morgan recommended the committee decline to accept choice students next year, saying the district would not receive enough revenue per incoming pupil to reliably cover the costs that can follow, particularly for students who require special education services. "I am recommending that we not have school choice next year," Morgan said during his presentation.
The superintendent told the committee that the sending district pays $5,000 per chosen student, while the districtper-pupil cost and possible downstream needs (for example, an out-of-district placement) can exceed that amount. Nancy Haines, the district business manager, said certain special-education cost adders and circuit-breaker reimbursements are reportable to DESE and can help offset costs, but the district cannot predict those outcomes in advance.
School Committee members asked for additional analysis of the districthistory with school choice and of whether the revolving funds and any special-education reimbursements would cover marginal costs. "It would be a very interesting thing to do that if we have some room in," School Committee member Brandy Rausch said, urging a post-decision review if the committee later wants to reconsider school choice.
Public commenters asked practical questions about whether opting out as a district prevents their students from attending other districts (it does not) and how the choice revolving fund and transportation assessments operate. Residents also asked how mid-year student movement is handled; Haines explained the district reports enrollments to DESE in April and reconciles choice funds on that schedule.
After the hearing, the committee voted on a motion to opt out of school choice for 2025—6. The motion was moved and seconded by committee members; a roll-call vote approved the opt-out. The committee recorded the outcome as an affirmative vote by those present.
The committee emphasized the opt-out is reversible: Morgan noted a later spring vote could reopen participation if the districtbudget and classroom capacity permit.
Why this matters: school choice affects enrollment, classroom staffing and revenue. Districts can opt in to accept nonresident students when space exists; choosing to opt out is intended to protect capacity and budget planning but can affect family choice and revolving-fund revenue.
Whathappens next: the administration will file the districtdecision with DESE as required and the committee asked staff to prepare the requested historical analysis of past school choice revenue and costs so members can revisit the decision if conditions change.
