North Middlesex committee keeps pre‑K tuition unchanged for 2026–27; two members abstain
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Summary
The School Committee voted to maintain current preschool tuition rates for the 2026–27 school year after hearing that preschool slots are available and that rates rose 9% over the previous two years.
The North Middlesex Regional School District School Committee voted Feb. 24 to maintain current pre‑K tuition rates for the 2026–27 school year.
Erin Upton told the committee she is not proposing changes to tuition for FY27 and noted preschool rates rose a combined 9% across the past two years (5% in 2025 and 4% in 2026). Upton said the program currently has several openings and that the district’s tuition is competitive with neighboring districts.
Upton described program composition: the district’s integrated preschool classrooms can include up to seven students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) who receive services, along with up to eight community peers; the district also operates a smaller substantially separate program with a maximum of nine students.
Keenan Francois moved to maintain the current pre‑K tuition, with Lisa Bloom seconding. The committee approved the recommendation by roll call with five yeses and two abstentions; members who abstained said they prefer to see written comparative data on rates and the financial impact prior to voting on fee changes.
Several members asked that any future tuition votes include written comparative data and explicit cost figures so the committee can assess enrollment and affordability questions before voting.
