Schools & Education - Page 3

School Committee moves to leverage anticipated increases in state aid for the 2025-26 preliminary budget

February 21, 2025

by Diane Baum

Budget season formally kicked off at the School Committee’s January 30 business meeting with a 2025-26 budget overview presentation and recommendation to set the preliminary budget at $116.1M. This represents a 2.9 percent increase over a base budget that has been reduced by retirement of debt ($1.6M) and removal of $1.7M in allocations used in 2024-25 for unanticipated, non-recurring expenses. The School Committee’s budget guidelines for 2025-26 limit the overall budget increase to 3 percent. Acton’s preliminary assessment is set at $79.8M, a 0.97 percent increase. Boxborough’s preliminary assessment is set at $16.8M, a 5.25 percent increase. Each town’s share…

Budgets, Finances, and a Possible Override at Board and Committee Meetings

November 13, 2023

by Tom Beals

The budget and the potential for an override were prominent at the November 2, 2023 Acton-Boxborough (AB) School Committee meeting, the November 6, 2023 Acton Leadership Group and Select Board meetings, and the November 7, 2023 Acton Finance Committee meeting. Health care costs for both Town and School…

A group of people gathered around an old-style school desk

“Acton’s Schools Then and Now” at the Hosmer House

October 30, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

The Acton Historical Society (AHS) hosted its monthly Open House at the Hosmer House Museum on Saturday afternoon, October 21, and visitors had a chance to view the new exhibit, “Acton’s Schools, Then and Now.” Also on display was a poster project by two 2023 Acton Boxborough Regional…

Acton Leadership Group Considers Override

October 23, 2023

by Tom Beals

In opening remarks at the Acton Leadership Group (ALG) meeting on October 16, 2023, Town Manager John Mangiaratti said that the state had designated Minuteman Inn in Acton as a 33-bed emergency migrant shelter. School Superintendent Peter Light recognized the possibility of increased costs due to that designation.…

Office entrance of The Minuteman Inn Shelter

Acton’s Minuteman Inn to Shelter 33 Migrant Families

October 23, 2023

by Marion Maxwell

On August 8, 2023, Governor Maura Healey declared that a state of emergency exists in Massachusetts due to rapidly rising numbers of migrant families arriving in Massachusetts in need of shelter and services and a severe lack of shelter availability in the state. According to the Governor’s office…

A long table covered with a variety of shapes and sizes of mushrooms

Acton Conservation Trust Hosts Mushroom Experts for Foraging at Wills Hole

October 22, 2023

by Jody Harris

Acton Conservation Trust members and friends enjoyed a beautiful fall day during a joint event with Boston Mycological Club (BMC) on Sunday, October 1. Around 100 people from the two groups gathered at Wills Hole Conservation Land to search for mushrooms. Armed with baskets and special curved fungus…

children, goats, and goatkeepers on a grassy lawn

Goats and Giggles at the Acton Memorial Library

September 22, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

The Acton Memorial Library (AML) hosted a “Goats and Giggles” program on Wednesday, September 20 by Farmer’s Helpers, a community farm education program based at Chip-In Farm in Bedford that aims to cultivate “connections between people, food and farms.” The young goats are Fainting/Nigerian Dwarf crosses, small and…

School Committee Agenda Items Through January

September 17, 2023

by Adam Klein

The school committee meets every other Thursday to manage the general business of the school district as well as hear presentations on district goals and major initiatives, and to make decisions related to the next year’s budget. Some of these topics are items that may be of interest…

Danny’s Place New Space Reveal and Community Celebration

September 17, 2023

by Franny Osman

On Sunday, September 17, Danny’s Place Youth Services (DPYS), a 501c3 non-profit, held a ribbon-cutting at their new location in West Acton village, and a community celebration to honor the 20th year of the Danny’s Place vision. Danny’s Place was created in honor of Danny McCarthy, an ABRHS…

Four women stand in a room with plastic tubs in the background.

Acton Boxborough Resource Center powered by Acton Boxborough United Way

September 11, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

On Wednesday, September 6, a volunteer orientation was held at the newly opened Acton Boxborough Resource Center (ABRC), located in the regional school district’s Administration Building at 15 Charter Road in Acton. The space became available when the Carol Huebner Early Childhood Program moved to the new Boardwalk…

Original front entrance to the Acton Memorial Libray, the older brick building part.

Joining the Conversation

August 14, 2023

by Nancy Knoblock Hunton

Each week people from literally all over the world meet in the Acton library to practice speaking and listening to English in a “conversation group.” This small, supportive group gives newcomers to the United States a chance to become more fluent in English and learn about American culture.…

Photograph of a horseback riding arena with woman on horse in the foreground.

Choreographed Horseback Riding Benefits Equine Therapy Program

August 7, 2023

by Kim Kastens

On August 5 and 6, over a hundred horses and riders gathered at Bear Spot Farm on Pope Road in Acton to showcase their riding skills and raise money to benefit the equine therapy program of the Bear Spot Foundation. The equestrian discipline on display was “dressage.” In…

Two children putting on a puppet show for other children. One puppet is in a wheelchair and the other has a white cane such as used by some blind people.

Volunteers Use Puppets to Teach about People with Disabilities

June 28, 2023

by Joan Burrows

The Acton Commission on Disabilities (COD), now in its 36th year, was made a Commission by state law in 1987. The first group of seven members got to work right away. All agreed on parking as the first issue we would address. We did! And we have been…

Two teachers and six high school students standing on a stage. All are smiling and students are holding up scholarship awards.

AB PIP STEM revisioning

June 28, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

The award winning AB PIP STEM (Acton Boxborough Parent Involvement Project Science Technology Engineering Math) organization, has hosted and sponsored free educational events for grades K through 12, including Market Math events at a local supermarket, Star Parties, Nature Walks, STEM Book Club, Night of Code among others.…

Concord Players Recognizes RJ Grey Junior High Student’s Essay on Little Women

May 9, 2023

by Franny Osman

Every ten years, the Concord Players produces Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. This year, for the first time, they put on the musical version, based on the 2005 Broadway musical. To accompany the show, which closes May 13, there was a Birthday Bash kick-off in November, a film…

ALICE training for local businesses and organizations

May 8, 2023

by Alissa Nicol

Detective Luke Penney, a School Resource Officer (SRO) with the Acton Police Department of Youth and Family Services Division, is a certified ALICE instructor. ALICE is an active shooter preparedness program – the acronym stands for Alert, Lock-Down, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. Detectives with the SRO program have supported…

Man and woman in a basement with large tank and heating equipment. Man gesturing.

Environmental Education for Acton Residents

May 1, 2023

by Karen Root Watkins

From conserving water resources to adopting renewable energy in our homes, Acton residents are learning and acting. On Wednesday, April 26th, the Acton Water District led a “Water Wise Nature Walk” about Acton’s water supply while touring the key conservation land along Brook St and 459 Main St…

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Schools & Education - Page 3

School Committee moves to leverage anticipated increases in state aid for the 2025-26 preliminary budget

Budgets, Finances, and a Possible Override at Board and Committee Meetings

“Acton’s Schools Then and Now” at the Hosmer House

Acton Leadership Group Considers Override

Acton’s Minuteman Inn to Shelter 33 Migrant Families

Acton Conservation Trust Hosts Mushroom Experts for Foraging at Wills Hole

Goats and Giggles at the Acton Memorial Library

School Committee Agenda Items Through January

Danny’s Place New Space Reveal and Community Celebration

Acton Boxborough Resource Center powered by Acton Boxborough United Way

Joining the Conversation

Choreographed Horseback Riding Benefits Equine Therapy Program

Volunteers Use Puppets to Teach about People with Disabilities

AB PIP STEM revisioning

Concord Players Recognizes RJ Grey Junior High Student’s Essay on Little Women

ALICE training for local businesses and organizations

Environmental Education for Acton Residents

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