Superintendent's Update-October 16, 2026

I am pleased to share that Melissa Mastrolia has been named 2027 MAEA Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year, and Brittany Martinez has been named Elementary Art Educator of the Year. In addition, Lauren Donahue’s teaching was profiled in the recent publication What Artists Do: TAB Pedagogy for K–12 Choice-Based Art Classes. These educators have been invited to be recognized at the next School Committee meeting.

I am proud to share that Jim Scanlon, Athletic Director, has been recognized by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) as a Certified Master Athletic Administrator. This voluntary certification recognizes exemplary knowledge, professional contributions, and ongoing professional development in interscholastic athletic administration. The process includes a thorough review of education, experience, NIAAA Leadership Training Courses, and professional contributions, and it culminates in a written or oral presentation project. Mr. Scanlon joins a select group of athletic administrators worldwide who have earned this distinction. Please join me in congratulating him. 

Weather Related Procedures

A-B's Weather & Emergency Communication Procedures

Our goal is to ensure that our school campuses and facilities are safe for students to attend each day. There will be times when conditions beyond our control, including weather or other factors, might cause us to delay or cancel school, or in rare circumstances, release students on a different schedule. I am providing the information below to help you understand how delays, cancellations, and early dismissals work. 

The Decision-Making Process

The Superintendent is responsible for deciding when to cancel, delay, or close our schools. Before making a decision, our team consults with our weather service, the Departments of Public Works in Acton and Boxborough, local public safety officials, and our own facilities and transportation offices. 

Communication

We try to notify staff and families by 5:30 a.m. about any school closure or delays for the day.  If schools are closed or delayed, the information will be shared with you in the following ways:

• By text, automated phone call, and email  through ParentSquare: https://www.parentsquare.com

• Posted on the District website : www.abschools.org

• Local media: Channel 4 WBZ; Channel 5 WCVB; Channel 7 WHDH; Channel 10 NBC Boston; and FOX 25. 

To update your ParentSquare contact details, log in to your account, go to My Account, click on Edit Account, and select “edit.”  For technical support, access EDTech assistance by selecting the “email icon” located in the top-right corner of the district website.  

School Closure/Cancellation

If we decide to cancel school for the day, all schools and programs will be closed.  

For closures/cancellations, the following will apply:

• All PreK-12 classes and school activities will be canceled for the day.  This includes all before and after-school activities, sports, and extracurricular events. 

• All after-school and evening meetings will be canceled unless an exception is made. 

• All Community Education programs will be canceled. 

• Transportation of students to out-of-district schools will be canceled.

• All offices will be closed.

Delayed-Opening

Sometimes, we need extra time to clear roads or sidewalks. In this case, we may call for a delayed opening. For a 2-hour delay schedule:

• Transportation will begin their schedules and pick-up times as close to the delayed time of opening as possible. For example, if your student's regular bus stop time is 7:15 a.m. on a regular school day and a two-hour delay is called, that bus will then aim to pick up students at 9:15 a.m. 

• Schools will be dismissed at their regular times. 

• Breakfast and Lunch will be available today.

• PM and All Day sessions at the Carol Huebner Early Childhood Program will begin at 12:00. AM sessions will be canceled. 

• AM Kindergarten session will be canceled.

• Community Education Extended Day will open on a delayed schedule. All after-school activities and programs will operate under their normal schedule. 

• School offices will open two hours later depending on the delay announced. 

• If you have a student driver and believe the conditions are unsafe, please transport them to school. 

Emergency Release

Once students arrive at school and the buildings are open, we make every effort to operate a normal schedule and release students at the normally scheduled time. However, in the event of severe weather or other emergency conditions, it may be necessary for us to release students on a different schedule. If such a decision needs to be made then the automated notification system will be used to alert parents and guardians. Please have a plan in place with your child who might arrive home early on these unusual occasions.

Special Note on Weather Conditions and Student Drivers

Our goal is to be open every day and we base our decision around our ability to have our schools appropriately staffed and for our buses to navigate the roads.  We recognize that student drivers have a range of abilities and experiences and not all conditions may be appropriate for young drivers.  It is a family’s decision if weather conditions are safe for student drivers.  If you believe conditions are unsafe, please make alternate arrangements for your student to get to school.

Spring 2026 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS)

As we previously shared, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education launched an MCAS Family Portal in August 2026. We shared instructions with families in early September on how to access their child(ren)'s MCAS reports from Spring 2026 (and prior, if applicable).  This portal replaces our prior practice of sharing PDF reports with families. If you need a reminder of the link and/or your child's registration number, please log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal and click "Test Scores" on the left menu.   If you have further access questions, please contact Louisa Latham at llatham@abschools.org.  If you have questions about your child's results, please contact your child(ren)'s teacher(s). Thank you! 

ABRHS 990 Initiative

At last night’s School Committee meeting, Principal Joanie Dean shared an update on the high school’s work to meet state time on learning requirements. Through the district’s Integrated Monitoring Review this summer, DESE found that ABRHS will need to make 3 changes to meet their standards for student learning time. We have until July 2027 to come into compliance.

What needs to change

1. Full schedules: All 10th, 11th, and 12th graders must be fully scheduled. Only 39 of nearly 1,200 students in those grades currently are.

2. Added hours: A full schedule now provides 972 hours, so we need to add 18 hours to reach 990.

3. Seniors’ last day: Seniors’ last day can be no more than 12 days before the originally scheduled last day for other grades.

What we are doing

• Seniors’ last day and added hours (#’s 2&3 above): We will resolve both within the one-year window. Beginning with the Class of 2028, seniors’ last day will move one week later. We will add the 18 hours by adjusting early release time, MCAS late starts, and lunch periods.

• Request for a phased timeline: Fully scheduling students (#1 above) could require as many as 10 additional teaching positions, at a cost of nearly $1 million, along with changes to classroom space and curriculum. Ms. Dean and I have asked DESE to allow a three-year phase-in, with 10th graders fully scheduled next year, 11th graders the following year, and 12th graders in the third year. We will share DESE’s response when we receive it.

• 990 Committee: A staff committee co-chaired by Ms. Dean and English teacher Dan Goldner is developing three options at low, mid, and high budget levels. Each will include any needed changes to the Program of Studies and graduation requirements, and the committee will share its recommendations by late December.

• Guiding principles: The committee’s work centers on student choice, meaningful electives, balanced schedules, reasonable staff workload, and clear communication.

How families can participate
Free periods have long been part of the AB experience, and we know this is a significant shift. We want to hear from you at a parent and caregiver forum, held from 5:00 to 6:00 pm:

• Wednesday, October 21 (virtual)

• Thursday, October 29 (in person, Room 119N)

• Wednesday, November 18 (virtual)

• Tuesday, December 8 (in person, Room 119N)

You can also submit questions through the online form on the high school website. Thank you to Ms. Dean and the committee for their thoughtful work, and thank you to our community for your partnership.

Basic Rights: Evaluation & Eligibility

On Tuesday, October 27, from 5:30-7:00 p.m., join the Acton-Boxborough SEPAC and the ABRSD Special Education Department for a free online basic rights workshop presented by the Federation for Children with Special Needs. Topics include referrals, evaluations, and the team meeting process, including determining special education eligibility. Further discussion will focus on services, placement, and what to do when you receive a proposed IEP. The information about evaluations is relevant even if your child already has an IEP! This workshop is open to all. Click Here to Register