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Freetown-Lakeville district seeks to be sole tuition provider if Acushnet sends students to Apponequet
Summary
District officials told Freetown and Lakeville select boards they are negotiating a tuition agreement with Acushnet Public Schools that could send roughly 40–50 Acushnet eighth-graders to Apponequet Regional High School annually. The district says it met Acushnet's criteria, pitched a short-term agreement and would hire staff if enrollment grows.
Freetown-Lakeville Regional School District officials told the joint Freetown and Lakeville select boards on Nov. 3 that they are negotiating a tuition agreement with Acushnet Public Schools that could send Acushnet eighth-graders to Apponequet Regional High School beginning next September. "We are talking to Acushnet about potentially entering some type of tuition agreement where students who are in Acushnet in eighth grade looking for a high school would be able to attend school at Apponequet Regional High School," the superintendent said during the meeting.
The district said it has presented to Acushnet, met the district's stated criteria, hosted Acushnet site visits on Oct. 23 and is expecting a second Acushnet visit Nov. 10. Acushnet annually has about 100 eighth-grade students and is considering several options beyond Old Colony and Bristol Aggie, including Fairhaven, New Bedford and Apponequet. District officials said they hope to be a single-source provider and estimate 40–50 incoming students per year if selected.
School leaders told the select boards they would plan to restore or add positions as enrollment increases. "If we take in 40 or 50 students, we would be looking to hire additional staff, especially if you're doing that over a period of time," the superintendent said, adding that the district factored anticipated staff additions into preliminary tuition calculations.
Officials said financial details remain under negotiation and cannot be shared while proposals are pending, but the district expects the agreement to be revenue-positive rather than intentionally cost-creating. The superintendent said Acushnet was looking for a shorter-term agreement than some existing long-term arrangements the district observed elsewhere and that negotiations could include payment schedules similar to those used with other receiving schools.
The select boards were told Acushnet may render a decision as early as December. Town officials said they would need clear budgeting information if the agreement is accepted so each town can account for student seats in upcoming fiscal plans.
The school committee must approve any tuition agreement; select board members were advised that the agreement is not a municipal merger but a district-to-district tuition contract. Officials offered to hold an informational session for residents if negotiations proceed.
Ending: The district said it will return with more detail once Acushnet invites formal negotiations and emphasized the proposal is preliminary and contingent on Acushnet's decision timetable.
