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Strategic Planning & Reorganization 2025

AB ForwardUpdated 6.13.2025

Strategic Planning & Reorganization 2025

You may have heard about the challenges of recent years and the tough choices we’ve had to make to balance the budget. The funding we receive from our towns and the state is no longer keeping up with the external factors driving up costs in our current system. The reality is, the way we’ve structured and funded education over the past 50 years is no longer enough to meet the fast-changing needs of today.

We’re taking this on because we believe in our students and our community. Our goal is to build something sustainable that will endure for decades—not just patchwork solutions for another budget cycle. Our ever-changing world demands more from both our educators and our graduates. We are committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential and that our educators have the resources they need to support that goal. At the same time, we also recognize that our community must be able to afford our schools. This isn’t just about saving money; it’s about being smart with the resources we have. Acton-Boxborough has evolved, and our students need new skills that our current system isn’t equipped to provide.

Read More about Our Why for engaging in this important work.
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Project Overview +
Acton-Boxborough Regional School District (ABRSD) partnered with District Management Group (DMGroup) on a strategic planning and district reorganization initiative to create an updated strategic plan as well as a set of 3-5 actionable options for district reorganization that could guide district operations for the next 5-10 years.


Process
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Updates +

Updated: June 13, 2025

June 11, 2025

  • The Strategic Planning & Reorganization Steering Committee is now A-B Forward: Shaping our future together

  • June 10 Meeting Update (revised): The AB Forward Steering Committee met to discuss strategic planning for the school district. The meeting began with approving minutes from their May 27 meeting and reviewing public comments submitted by community members.

  • Joe Costello from District Management Group (DMG) provided key updates on their stakeholder engagement work. His team has been conducting preliminary interviews and focus groups with various community members to gather input about the district's current state and future needs.

  • The committee discussed their strategic planning framework, focusing on how to prioritize important initiatives and create actionable steps. They emphasized the need for comprehensive community input throughout the process.

  • A major decision was made to launch a district-wide community survey on June 11, 2025. The survey will run for one month and ask residents about the district's strengths, challenges, and priorities for the strategic plan. The survey will use an online platform called Thought Exchange to collect responses.

  • The committee also established a smaller working group that will meet regularly during the summer months. This group will draft language for the strategic plan and workshop different components.

  • Their next full committee meeting is scheduled for August 25, 2025, when they will review survey results and diagnostic findings, then begin developing the district's mission, vision, and theory of action.

  • Final DMG Slides from June 10, 2025

June 6, 2025

May 27, 2025

  • First scheduled meeting of the Steering Committee.  5.27.25 Steering Committee Training Agenda

  • Quick Summary: Peter Light chaired the first meeting of the strategic planning and reorganization steering committee on May 27, 2025. The committee, comprising school committee members, educators, and parents, discussed the need for a new strategic plan.  The plan will be focused on meeting students' needs in a period of declining enrollment and limited resources. District Management Group (DMG) will assist in developing the plan, focusing on stakeholder engagement, data analysis, and creating actionable strategies. The committee emphasized the importance of transparency, public records compliance, and maintaining community trust. Future meetings will delve into stakeholder engagement and strategic planning frameworks, aiming to present final options by December 2025.

  • Meeting Minutes:  Minutes (approved June 10)

  • Meeting Materials: District Management Group Slides, Open Meeting & Public Records Law Slides

May 22, 2025

May 1, 2025

  • District opens applications and solicits family members and educators for Steering Committee

April 17, 2025

April

15, 2025

  • District conducts interviews and selects District Management Group as preferred consultant with input from school committee members, administrators and educators

March 20, 2025

March 17, 2025

March 13, 2025
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Steering Committee Meetings +

The Steering Committee is comprised of school committee members, families, educators, school and district administrators.  The Steering Committee anticipates meeting on the dates below to discuss the topics listed (subject to change).  Steering Committee meetings are open to the public and held in the Auditorium of the Administration Building located at 15 Charter Rd. in Acton.  Agendas and meeting minutes will be published to the school committee website.  Agendas will be available at least 48 hours prior to each meeting.



Meeting No.

Date

Drafted Objectives

Length

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Tues. May 27

6:30 - 7:30pm

  • Public Records and Open Meeting Law Training

  • Introduce steering committee to DMGroup and the process for strategic planning and reorganization

  • Introduce strategic planning framework

  • Confirm the role of steering committee members

1 hour

1

Tues. Jun 10

6:30 - 7:30pm

  • Introduce strategic planning framework

  • Discuss district mission/vision and theory of action

  • Confirm next steps for the summer

1 hour

2

Mon. Aug 25

6:30 - 8:00pm

  • Review and discuss diagnostic findings

  • Discuss district mission/vision and theory of action

1.5 hours

3

Tues. Sep 9

6:30 - 8:00pm

  • Confirm district mission/vision and theory of action

  • Discuss priority area themes that emerged from diagnostic analysis

  • Review preliminary options for district reorganization to be shared with the community for feedback

1.5 hours

4

Tues. Oct 7

6:30 - 8:00pm

  • Confirm district priorities and measurable goals for the strategic plan

  • Update on progress with stakeholder engagement

1.5 hours

5

Tues. Nov 18

6:30 - 8:00pm

  • Review stakeholder feedback on options for district reorganization

  • Confirm elements of the strategic plan

  • Align on next steps to finalize options for presentation to the school committee

1.5 hours

6

Tues. Dec 2

6:30 - 8:00pm

  • Final presentation of strategic plan and reorganization options ahead of sharing with the school committee

1.5 hours
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Submit a Public Comment +
Submit a Public Comment through the Public Comment Form. 
Guidelines:
School District Community: Acton and Boxborough residents, families with students in the district, students in the district, and employees of the district may submit comments.
 
Steering Committee work: Comments should relate to the work of the steering committee:
  • to review information from District Management Group
  • to provide guidance and recommendation about the strategic plan and possible reorganization scenarios for the school district.
Public record: All comments are public and will be shared with meeting materials.
Timing: 
  • Comments received 48 hours before meetings are posted with materials
  • Comments received by 3PM on the day of the meeting will be brought to the meeting  
  • The steering committee does not typically respond to public comment during meetings
Due to the size of the steering committee and our limited meeting time (both in meeting numbers and duration), there will not be a public comment period on the agenda as a matter of routine. This form is our primary means of receiving community input.
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