January 23, 2026

Dear Acton-Boxborough Community, 

Last night, the school committee voted to move forward with Reorganization Option 5v2: Moving to K-3 and 4-6 schools at the Boardwalk Campus and Parker Damon Buildings, while maintaining Blanchard as a K-6 school. The vote also determined that we will move to a geography-based enrollment model for all students beginning next year.  

This has been an incredibly challenging process that has deeply impacted many in our community and will continue to do so for some time.  I want to recognize that our community is likely feeling a wide-range of emotions, all equally valid.  I also understand the feelings of uncertainty for many people as well, and that you will need rapid answers to a wide-range of questions.

You will begin to receive more information in the coming days, including surveys for both staff and families to collect your questions and concerns about the option we will now implement.  

We will also kick off a regular series of Zoom meetings designed separately for families beginning next Tuesday, January 27.  These bi-weekly meetings are optional and take place every other week from 7:00-7:45 p.m.  The purpose of the meetings is to hear updates, ask questions, and provide feedback focused on the implementation process.  We will make detailed notes from all of the meetings available to members of the community.  Our first meeting next week will focus on the implementation timeline and planned strategies to help students through this process.  You will receive a link to the first meeting early next week.

At the bottom of this message is a fact sheet about the reorganization option that was selected by the school committee.  The content was developed by our leadership to respond to students' questions. This information is provided to help guide home and school conversations and is not intended to be read directly to your child. We want to ensure that you are aware of how our staff may respond as students naturally ask questions.  

Additionally, we have published resources for helping you navigate conversations with students and access mental health supports, if needed.  I encourage you to visit our AB Forward Community Wellness Page at: https://www.abschools.org/abforwardcommunitywellness

I understand that many in our community may feel the need to pause for a period before re-engaging with us around this process, and it is my sincere hope, now that a decision has been made, that we can begin a healing process that can focus us on making this transition happen as smoothly as possible for our students, staff, and families.

Thank you for all you do to support our students.

Sincerely,

Peter Light

Superintendent of Schools

Facts About Option 5v2 from a Student Perspective

• One physical building will close: The Conant building will no longer be used as an elementary school.

• Classes will be a little bigger. There will be fewer classrooms in the district, which means most classes will have a few more students than they do now.

• You will still have "Specials." Students will still go to Art, Music, PE, and Library.

• Lunch and recess may be busier. Because there will be more students in each building, more friends will be eating lunch and playing on the playground at the same time.

• Some students and staff will be welcomed into new schools.

• Schools for younger and older kids. In Acton, schools would be split into Lower Schools for grades K-3 and Upper Schools for grades 4-6, one each at the Boardwalk and Parker Damon campuses.  In Boxborough, Blanchard will still be a K-6 school.

• Students will go to school with other students who live near them. Students will go to school with friends who live near them and other friends who live in the same part of town.

• Students will stay on the same campus, K-6. Once students join their school for next year, those attending a Lower School (Parker Damon or Boardwalk campus) will continue at the same physical building when they transition to the Upper School in 4th grade.

• Blanchard stays K-6. The Blanchard Memorial School would not change and would keep students in all grades from Kindergarten through 6th grade.