North Middlesex committee votes to permanently close Ashby Elementary School
January 30, 2026 | North Middlesex Regional School District, School Boards, Massachusetts
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The North Middlesex Regional School District School Committee voted Jan. 29 to permanently close Ashby Elementary School after a prolonged public-comment period and extended budget discussion.
The decision followed testimony from residents, town officials and educators. Chuck Walkovich read a Jan. 22 letter from the Pepperell select board opposing reopening Ashby and warning that the town could not absorb the additional staffing, utilities and capital costs. A resident who identified herself as Kathy urged the committee to treat the three member towns equitably and to reconsider decisions that she said disadvantaged Ashby. Teachers and staff also submitted letters and in-person remarks. Kate Stepinski, president of the district Teachers Association and a special-education teacher, told the committee that class sizes across grade levels are "in the mid twenties and, in some cases, the low thirties," and urged the committee to prioritize adding student-facing staff and reducing class sizes.
Finance chair Kim Craven presented side-by-side budget scenarios the committee had requested. Craven said the administration udget request represented about a 3.06% increase over the FY26 baseline, the towns ould support about a 2.47% increase, and the committee's "optimum" scenario would be about 5.35%. Craven told members that a column showing the cost of reopening Ashby without also addressing district-wide needs would add roughly $1.4 million in staffing-related costs and would not, by itself, resolve class-size pressures across the district. She highlighted that the optimum budget (5.35%) would provide the staffing increases most likely to reduce class sizes districtwide.
Superintendent Brad Morgan cautioned against using one-time reserves for recurring expenses and said the administration planned to use approximately $2.2 million of E&D (excess and deficiency) funds this year, a practice he said risks creating structural shortfalls in future budgets.
After committee members gave personal statements, Keenan Francois moved to "permanently close Ashby Elementary School," a motion seconded by Jackie White. On the roll-call vote the committee recorded seven votes in favor and two opposed; members recorded as voting against the motion were Carla Lima and Randy Rush. Members who publicly stated they would vote in favor cited long-term fiscal sustainability, the need to stabilize district finances and the desire to prioritize staffing and programs districtwide. Opponents said closing Ashby reduces district capacity and removes an asset that draws families to the town.
What happens next: the committee's decision directs administration to proceed under applicable policies for a permanent closure. Several members and public commenters urged continued attention to special-education placement, class-size mitigation and the district's long-range enrollment and facilities planning.
Representative quotes from the meeting:
"There is no light at the end of this tunnel, and I will be voting to close Ashby Elementary School because I refuse to let this district and my constituents drown in indecision," said Keenan Francois as he introduced the motion.
"When I look at what the district needs to address the educational needs and learning environment of the children, that's something I want to tackle first," said Kim Craven, finance committee chair, explaining why reopening now would be difficult to sustain.
"Classes in kindergarten are 25 to 30 students, which is not developmentally appropriate nor safe," Teachers Association president Kate Stepinski told the committee during public comment.
The committee made clear that its vote was guided by budget realities presented at the meeting and by a desire to prioritize districtwide educational quality. The vote ends the pause on Ashby
nd establishes the closure as the committee's direction at this time.
The decision followed testimony from residents, town officials and educators. Chuck Walkovich read a Jan. 22 letter from the Pepperell select board opposing reopening Ashby and warning that the town could not absorb the additional staffing, utilities and capital costs. A resident who identified herself as Kathy urged the committee to treat the three member towns equitably and to reconsider decisions that she said disadvantaged Ashby. Teachers and staff also submitted letters and in-person remarks. Kate Stepinski, president of the district Teachers Association and a special-education teacher, told the committee that class sizes across grade levels are "in the mid twenties and, in some cases, the low thirties," and urged the committee to prioritize adding student-facing staff and reducing class sizes.
Finance chair Kim Craven presented side-by-side budget scenarios the committee had requested. Craven said the administration udget request represented about a 3.06% increase over the FY26 baseline, the towns ould support about a 2.47% increase, and the committee's "optimum" scenario would be about 5.35%. Craven told members that a column showing the cost of reopening Ashby without also addressing district-wide needs would add roughly $1.4 million in staffing-related costs and would not, by itself, resolve class-size pressures across the district. She highlighted that the optimum budget (5.35%) would provide the staffing increases most likely to reduce class sizes districtwide.
Superintendent Brad Morgan cautioned against using one-time reserves for recurring expenses and said the administration planned to use approximately $2.2 million of E&D (excess and deficiency) funds this year, a practice he said risks creating structural shortfalls in future budgets.
After committee members gave personal statements, Keenan Francois moved to "permanently close Ashby Elementary School," a motion seconded by Jackie White. On the roll-call vote the committee recorded seven votes in favor and two opposed; members recorded as voting against the motion were Carla Lima and Randy Rush. Members who publicly stated they would vote in favor cited long-term fiscal sustainability, the need to stabilize district finances and the desire to prioritize staffing and programs districtwide. Opponents said closing Ashby reduces district capacity and removes an asset that draws families to the town.
What happens next: the committee's decision directs administration to proceed under applicable policies for a permanent closure. Several members and public commenters urged continued attention to special-education placement, class-size mitigation and the district's long-range enrollment and facilities planning.
Representative quotes from the meeting:
"There is no light at the end of this tunnel, and I will be voting to close Ashby Elementary School because I refuse to let this district and my constituents drown in indecision," said Keenan Francois as he introduced the motion.
"When I look at what the district needs to address the educational needs and learning environment of the children, that's something I want to tackle first," said Kim Craven, finance committee chair, explaining why reopening now would be difficult to sustain.
"Classes in kindergarten are 25 to 30 students, which is not developmentally appropriate nor safe," Teachers Association president Kate Stepinski told the committee during public comment.
The committee made clear that its vote was guided by budget realities presented at the meeting and by a desire to prioritize districtwide educational quality. The vote ends the pause on Ashby
nd establishes the closure as the committee's direction at this time.
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