School Committee Urges Ashby, Pepperell, Townsend Residents to Attend Special Town Meetings on March 10
ASHBY, PEPPERELL, TOWNSEND, MA – The North Middlesex Regional School District (NMRSD) is facing a significant budget shortfall due to rising costs that outpace allowable tax revenue growth under Proposition 2 ½. Without approval of a district-wide, cumulative 2.25% budget override, the district will be forced to eliminate 45 full-time teaching positions, leading to larger class sizes, reduced academic programs, and fewer student opportunities.
The proposed budget represents a careful and necessary investment in the district’s future, ensuring that students continue to receive the high-quality education possible while ensuring affordability by community members. If the override fails, class sizes will rise to 30-43 students per class. The significant increase will impact the learning environment and reduce the ability of teachers to provide optimum instruction. Additionally, critical reductions in curriculum, technology, capital improvements, and extra-curricular activity reduction and increased fees will further impact students’ educational experience.
A Thoughtful and Transparent Budget Process
The NMRSD School Committee and administration have worked diligently to develop a responsible budget that balances the district’s needs with the financial realities of the towns. Over the past several months, the district has:
- Conducted public meetings to gather input from community members, town officials, and educators.
- Explored cost-saving measures, including administrative reductions, staffing reallocations, retirement incentives, health care opt outs, and facility consolidations.
- Reviewed historical trends in state funding, which has only increased by $1.3 million over the past 10 years, failing to keep up with inflation, rising educational costs, unfunded mandates, and the state’s failure to properly reimburse for transportation.
- Researched other regional districts, including Groton-Dunstable, Nashoba, Quabbin, and Narragansett, all of which are facing similar financial challenges.
School Committee Chair Lisa Martin: “This is an Investment in Our Community”
NMRSD School Committee Chair Lisa Martin emphasized the critical nature of this funding:
“The School Committee understands that this is a difficult financial decision for our communities, but the reality is that state education funding has not kept pace with rising costs and mandated services. The proposed override is not about expanding services—it is about keeping the highest level of education possible given the circumstances. If this override fails, we will see unprecedented class sizes, significant program reductions, and fewer opportunities for our students to succeed. Funding the schools is an investment in the strength and future of North Middlesex.”
Regional Challenges Across Massachusetts
North Middlesex is not alone in facing these challenges. Regional school districts across Massachusetts are grappling with budget shortfalls due to stagnant state aid, rising special education costs, and increasing operational expenses. The Nashoba Regional School District has warned of deep cuts without an override, and the Quabbin Regional School District has already implemented teacher layoffs due to financial constraints. Similarly, the Narragansett Regional School District has had to consolidate schools and reduce programming due to budget limitations.
The upcoming Special Town Meetings on March 10, 2025, will determine the future of North Middlesex schools. Each town will decide the amount of the override and if the override question will go to the ballot. Once on the ballot, the voters will decide.
For more information on the budget and upcoming vote, please visit www.nmrsdbudget.org.