AB Votes to Close Schools, End Open Enrollment

School Committee · Meeting of January 22, 2026

ACTON — The Acton-Boxborough Regional School Committee voted 18 to 3.5 to close all five Acton elementary schools and end open enrollment in favor of geography-based assignment. Members rejected a smaller alternative, option four, by the same weighted margin before approving the full reorganization, which splits students from the closing Conant, Miriam and McCarthy Town schools among four new buildings and Blanchard Elementary starting July 1, 2026. Superintendent Peter said the change carries nearly $1 million in one-time costs plus $200,000 in contingency, funded from reserves so town assessments won't rise.

The district's preliminary fiscal 2027 budget is $121.3 million, up 3.69 percent. Committee member Liz said of the status quo, "So what we have is not working," while dissenting member Andrew warned the plan is "changing the nature of our towns."

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Source: the School Committee meeting of January 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.