Nashoba committee weighs calendar changes to free summer days for 2027 high‑school deconstruction; early‑release schedule draws debate

Superintendent Kirk Downing told the Nashoba Regional School Committee on Nov. 5 that the district is developing a FY 2027 calendar designed to maximize summer days to allow phased deconstruction of the current high school beginning in summer 2027.

Downing said the district would prefer to start school one week earlier than its typical pattern so the construction team can begin abatement and demolition on targeted sections (library, social studies and science wing) as soon as students and staff vacate those areas. He said the plan would gain about five instructional days and that administration hopes to complete the most disruptive work before fall. “In order to do that, we would want to start school a week earlier than our typical pattern,” Downing said.

The administration also proposed moving a full professional‑development day from March to Sept. 1 — a state primary‑election date — so that the district will not have to cancel additional school days later for elections. The presentation noted an existing contract clause that restricts how early the district can start school and that construction‑related extraordinary circumstances can permit a start‑date change.

Committee members discussed tradeoffs: some said Friday early‑release days make travel and family schedules easier, while administration presented attendance data showing elevated absence rates on Friday early‑release days in parts of the district. Members asked administration to present two or three calendar versions at the next meeting — one with Friday early‑release days, one with Wednesday early releases, and a hybrid — and cited the importance of balancing family convenience, student attendance and construction sequencing.

Administration said it will model the calendar with projected snow‑day contingencies (the construction schedule assumes five built‑in snow days) and bring recommended calendar options back to the committee in time for a vote in early December.

Ending: The committee asked administration to return with multiple calendar options, attendance data by early‑release date, and a recommended timeline for public feedback before a final vote.