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AB Forward Strategic Plan 2026-31

AB Forward: Strategic Plan 2026-31

The AB Forward logo features stylized letters and a forward-pointing arrow design.

Updated 10.3.2025
 

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.

 

AB FORWARD: Reorganization Overview

 

Disclaimer: The above video was created using Google’s Notebook LM, a generative AI tool.  The video provides a high-level overview of the AB Forward reorganization work, but by design, it lacks important details of each of the options for consideration.  We encourage you to use the video and slides below in combination with each other to gain a deeper understanding of potential options.

 

AB FORWARD: REORGANIZATION SLIDES

PowerPoint Presentation 

 

The above slides will be presented at the AB Forward Steering Committee meeting on October 7, 2025.  For meeting details, please visit the AB Forward Meeting Page after 4 PM on 10/3.

 

AB FORWARD requests community feedback about reorganization options

We need your feedback to help make the best decision possible for our community.  Here is how you can get involved:

  1. Attend a Community Forum
    1. Community Forum #1: Tuesday, October 21st, 6:30-8:00 p.m., 

      Acton-Boxborough Regional High School Auditorium

    2. Community Forum #2: Monday, October 27th, 6:30-8:00 p.m.,

      Blanchard Memorial School Gymnasium

    3. Community Forum #3: Thursday, October 30th, 6:30-8:00 p.m., 

      Virtual (registration & link to follow)

  2. Complete our survey (available mid-October)
  3. Participate in a focus group (limited availability – self-serve enrollment beginning Monday, 10/6)
  4. Submit a written comment to the steering committee
  5. Submit a comment to the school committee by email
  6. Attend an AB Forward Steering Committee Meeting or a School Committee Meeting
  • 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.

    A timeline graphic outlines a strategic planning process with several phases.

  • Strategic Plan
    The strategic plan is a clear roadmap for the school district that helps everyone work together to reach important goals for students and the district in a sustainable way for the community. Important parts of our plan will include:

    1. Vision and Mission:  How we ultimately define success for our schools, deeply grounded in our “Vision of a Graduate.”
    2. Theory of Action:  Our beliefs about what makes our school district distinct and how we believe we will accomplish our vision and mission.
    3. Priorities & Measurable Goals: A set of 3-5 big areas of focus that we believe will lead to the strongest outcomes for our students and community, each with a set of specific goals that we will be able to measure to track our progress.
    4. Options for Reorganizing the District: Using the strategic plan as a guide, a set of 3-4 options will be presented to the ABRSD School Committee for how the district could reorganize schools and programs to continue to provide strong outcomes for students, while creating more sustainability for staff members and the community.
  • 1. Broad Community Engagement
    Total engagement points (i.e., Number of survey responses, number of interview and focus group participants, attendees at community meetings, etc.).
    Representation of the community by type of community member (i.e., Parents and families, teachers, students, other community members) and groups (i.e., Student needs, grade levels, ethnic or cultural groups, etc.).
    2. Clear Plan For Excellent Schools
    A clear strategic plan based on community needs, approved by the school committee, that shows how ABRSD will continue to maintain excellent schools with corresponding options for possible reorganization.

    3. High Impact & Realistic Options
    A summary of how each proposed option would maximize benefits, while limiting drawbacks, for students, families, educators, and the community, in addition to being highly feasible for the district to pursue.

    4. Financial Sustainability
    Specific cost information about how each proposed option for reorganizing schools will create a more efficient and sustainable district.

  • Updated: September 26, 2025

    Quick meeting updates are provided to give our community quick access to information. These updates are created with the assistance of generative AI and may contain errors. These quick updates are not a substitute for approved meeting minutes. Meeting minutes are approved at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the steering committee.

    September 26, 2025

    AB announces community engagement opportunities in October

    We are now entering the phase of the project focused on the possible reorganization of our schools, and we need your input.

    • On October 7th, District Management Group will share preliminary reorganization options with the steering committee. The meeting agenda and materials will be posted to our official meetings website on October 3rd.  Steering committee meetings are open to the public.

    • In October, we will launch a district-wide survey and host focus groups and community forums to collect input. Here are some anticipated dates and timelines:

      • Community Survey: Launches mid-October. (All community members are encouraged to participate.)

      • Community Forums (Open to all members of the public):

    Community Forum #1: Tuesday, October 21st, 6:30-8:00 p.m., 

    Acton-Boxborough Regional High School Auditorium

     

    Community Forum #2: Monday, October 27th, 6:30-8:00 p.m.,

    Blanchard Memorial School Gymnasium

     

    Community Forum #3: Thursday, October 30th, 6:30-8:00 p.m., 

    Virtual (registration & link to follow)

     

    • Focus Groups: October 15th-27th. We will conduct over 30 focus groups with a capacity for up to 250 participants across stakeholder groups. Invitations for stakeholders to sign up for focus groups will be sent on the following schedule:

    October 1st: Individuals who applied to the steering committee but were not selected will be invited to sign up for a focus group (approximately 10 individuals).

    October 3rd: We will randomly select staff and families across our schools who will be invited to sign up for focus groups (approximately 50% of available seats).

    October 6th: Any community members may sign up for a focus group on a first-come, first-served basis. We will have separate focus groups for staff, families, and other stakeholder groups (approximately 50% of available seats).

    Once the community engagement phase of this work is complete, the information will be used to help the steering committee narrow options to the top 2-3 concepts.  These priorities will be submitted to the school committee for final approval.

    September 11, 2025

    The Steering Committee met on September 9th to continue its work on the district’s next strategic plan.

    • The discussion centered on developing a clear theory of action (how the district achieves its goals) and identifying priority areas to guide planning. 
    • The group voted to recommend modifications to the District’s Mission & Vision as noted in the presentation materials (below). 
    • The committee also previewed the framework by which future reorganization options may be evaluated.

    Key Themes from the Meeting

    • Meeting Student Needs: Committee members stressed the importance of supporting and balancing a wide range of academic and social-emotional needs at a variety of readiness and performance levels.

    • Support for Educators: There was a robust discussion about what support for educators is needed.  Ideas included: a need for more resources, high-quality instructional materials, and professional learning to help staff meet students’ diverse needs.

    • Flexibility and Adaptability: Members emphasized that the plan must account for changing student needs over time and the ability for educators to flexibly respond to their students’ needs.

    • System-wide Approach: Strong district systems and sustainable staffing models are essential to supporting all students effectively.

    District Reorganization Planning

    Joe Costello (DMG) introduced a framework for evaluating possible reorganization of the district to better meet student needs. Four dimensions will guide this work:

    1. Facility Needs – ensuring buildings support learning.

    2. School & Program Design – aligning programs with student needs.

    3. Staffing & Resourcing – ensuring the right support in the right places.

    4. Enrollment Policy – how the district determines which schools or programs students attend.

    In October, DMG will provide the steering committee with 6-10 possible options for reorganization.  The steering committee is responsible for using community feedback to narrow these options to 2-3.  

    Community feedback will play a central role. Community forums, focus groups, and surveys (including translation and virtual options) will gather diverse input this fall. By December 2025, the School Committee expects to review 2–3 actionable reorganization options.

    Next Steps

    • Strategic Planning Focus Groups of teachers, parents, students, and administrators will help refine the draft Theory of Action and Strategic Plan Priorities.  These were selected from standing groups, including the Educator Roundtable, Joint PTSO, and Superintendent & School Committee Student Advisory.

    • Reorganization Community Survey will launch in early to mid-October to gather broad input on reorganization options.

    • Reorganization Focus Groups will be formed to ensure balanced representation across schools, with translation and virtual participation available.  Focus groups will be comprised of stakeholders who sign up based on expressed interest, and individuals who are selected randomly and invited to participate.

    • Reorganization Community Forums will be held in Acton, Boxborough, and virtually for any members of the community who want to learn more and provide feedback into the process and decision.

    • December – the School Committee will review 2–3 proposed reorganization options.

    The School Committee and Steering Committee remain committed to a process that is inclusive, transparent, and responsive to community feedback as it shapes the district’s future direction.

     

    Meeting Agenda

    DMG Presentation Slides

    Meeting Minutes (once approved at next meeting)

    September 5, 2026
    • At the September 4th School Committee meeting, DM Group presented an overview of their findings on the current strengths and challenges within our schools.
    • These findings will serve as the foundation for developing the district’s next strategic plan and for considering potential school reorganization options.
    • You may view the full presentation here:

     

     

     

    August 26, 2025
    • During the meeting of the Acton-Boxborough Regional Strategic Planning and Reorganization Steering Committee, Peter Light, the superintendent, called the meeting to order, noting the presence of a quorum. He welcomed the committee members and introduced Joanie Dean, the high school principal, as a guest, pending formal appointment by the school committee.
    • The committee then reviewed and approved the minutes from their meeting on June 10, 2025. Following this, they acknowledged public comments. Members pointed out that the community wants to understand the reorganization process better and is concerned that decisions might already be finalized.
    • Joe Costello and Yash Arora from District Management Group (DMG) shared their analysis of the school district, highlighting several key findings:
    • Student Enrollment and Needs: Over the past ten years, student enrollment has dropped by about 10%, but the student body has become more diverse. Student needs have also increased, especially for students learning English (who went from 4% to 8% in 10 years) and those from lower-income backgrounds (a four-fold increase in the same period). Because of the open enrollment policy, the six elementary schools have varying student populations and needs.
    • Student and Staff Performance: The district's academic performance is very strong, with students ranking in the top 5% statewide while spending less than the state average. However, significant and ongoing achievement gaps exist for certain student groups, including English learners, students with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged students. Staff surveys also showed that 66% of educators felt stressed, overwhelmed, or exhausted at work.
    • District Finances: The district's total spending has gone up by about $16 million in the last five years, mainly due to rising costs and changes in the state's funding formula. Despite this, the district had to eliminate about 86 staff positions to balance its budget. While the community has invested in school buildings, significant future expenses are required, with significant projects at multiple buildings and one school in need of a full renovation or replacement.
    • The presentation also covered the strategic planning process, including a review of the district's mission and vision statements. The committee observed that the community had a very positive view of the existing mission and vision. The working group suggested small changes to the wording, such as adding "inclusive" to the mission and changing a verb in the vision, to better represent the district's goals and its dedication to fostering a sense of belonging.
    • The meeting concluded with a plan for upcoming actions, including a detailed discussion of the "theory of action" at the next meeting on September 9. This discussion will focus on how the district can put its mission and vision into practice. DMG will also start organizing the next phase of community involvement, which will concentrate on specific reorganization options in October.
    • Meeting Minutes (approved 9/5/2025)
    • Meeting Materials:
    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
    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 SlidesOpen Meeting & Public Records Law Slides
  • 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
    1 Tues. May 27
    6:30 - 7:30 pm
    • Public Records and Open Meeting Law Training
    • Introducethe  steering committee to DMGroup and the process for strategic planning and reorganization
    • Introduce a strategic planning framework
    • Confirm the role of steering committee members
    1 hour
    2 Tues. Jun 10
    6:30 - 7:30 pm
    • Introduce a strategic planning framework
    • Discuss district mission/vision and theory of action
    • Confirm next steps for the summer
    1 hour
    3 Mon. Aug 25
    6:30 - 8:00 pm
    • Review stakeholder feedback to date
    • Review diagnostic findings from DMGroup
    • Workshop mission/vision and theory of action
    1.5 hours
    4

    Tues. Sep 9

    6:30 - 8:00 pm

    • Confirm district mission/vision
    • Discuss the theory of action as well as priority area themes that emerged from diagnostic analysis
    • Review preliminary options for district reorganization to be shared with the community for feedback
    2 hours
    5

    Tues. Oct 7

    6:30 - 8:00 pm

    • Confirm district theory of action, priorities, and measurable goals for the strategic plan
    • Confirm options for district reorganization to be shared with the community for feedback
    • Update on progress with stakeholder engagement
    2 hours
    6

    Tues. Nov 18

    6:30 - 8:00 pm

    • 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
    2 hours
    7

    Tues. Dec 2

    6:30 - 8:00 pm

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

  • Public comment is a vital part of our process. All comments submitted to the Steering Committee are public records. You can submit a comment in one of two ways:

    • Online: The preferred method is to use the official Public Comment Form on the district's website. This ensures your comment is properly logged and distributed to all committee members. Submit your comment here.
    • Email: You can email your comment directly to the School Committee. Please be aware that your email address will become part of the public record.