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Worcester officials preview school‑boundary realignment plan, promise no closures and broad community input
Summary
District and consultants outlined a multi‑phase plan to redraw quadrants and school zones to address uneven overcrowding, emphasizing community forums, data transparency and that no school closures are anticipated; scenarios are due to be presented in June with a final vote expected in November.
Nick Salasano, a consultant with Diligent Research and Applied Data, told the Standing Committee on Operations and Governance on March 30 that consultants and district staff are developing new boundary and quadrant scenarios intended to reduce overcrowding and create predictable K–12 pathways.
The presentation, part of the superintendent's District Improvement Goal No. 3, laid out a three‑phase process: design new boundaries, plan implementation for transitions, and carry out implementation after the committee's vote. Salasano said the consultants and district began internal work last fall and will present several realignment scenarios for committee review in June, with a final recommendation expected for a vote in November and full implementation for the 2027–28 school year. He emphasized, "there is no anticipation of school closures." The district will publish aggregated enrollment and capacity data online and maintain an interactive web app open for feedback through May 15.
Dina Tedeschi, a Worcester resident and parent who spoke during public comment, urged that parents who contributed substantive input at the community forum be included on the working group and asked for clearer handbook language and plain‑language explanations about how student data is protected under COPPA. The consultants said parent and student voices will be prioritized: "We must include parents and student voice ASAP," Salasano said.
Committee members who attended the March forum praised turnout and asked about the working group's meeting cadence and how the district had handled similar work. Salasano said the core working group will meet roughly monthly, with more frequent meetings April–June, and cited prior work with Indianapolis Public Schools as relevant experience in modeling transportation and program access.
The district and consultants flagged several tradeoffs committee members should expect when reviewing scenarios: transportation and bell‑time impacts, capacity limits, program access, and tradeoffs that could affect families differently in different neighborhoods. The administration said it has formed a cross‑departmental team that includes special education, transportation and family engagement staff and will expand the working group to include parents and nonprofits.
The committee voted to "approve and file" the administration's report overview so the district can continue with the June scenario development and broader community engagement. The next public community forums are scheduled for April 15 and May 5, and principals and student advisory meetings are set in the coming days, the district said.
