Blackstone-Millville Schools Embark on Lighting Upgrade with National Grid Grant

Overview: In a recent meeting, the Blackstone-Millville Regional School Committee addressed a series of significant initiatives and financial matters, highlighting the authorization of a substantial lighting project funded by a National Grid grant, updates to the program of study with new AP and elective courses, and the positive movement in the district’s budget discussions with local finance committees.

Blackstone-Millville School Committee Grapples with Budget Cuts

Overview: The Blackstone-Millville Regional School Committee convened to discuss a series of issues, chief among them the potential $400,000 reduction to the school’s budget. The anticipated cut sparked a fervent debate over its impact on the district’s resources, particularly the possibility of losing approximately seven teachers. This reduction was linked to a surprise vote by the Board of Selectmen to lower the recommended budget by $100,000, a decision that members of the committee found particularly disconcerting. The meeting also addressed significant curriculum changes, the MSBA Feasibility Study Agreement, and plans for the upcoming school consolidation and grade reconfiguration.

Blackstone-Millville Approves School Grade Reconfiguration

Overview: The Blackstone-Millville Regional School Committee recently approved a grade reconfiguration for the 2024-2025 school year, a move that will reshape the district’s educational landscape. This reconfiguration will divide the students into three groups: pre-kindergarten through grade three, grades four through seven, and grades eight through twelve. The decision was reached after a review of parent and staff survey responses. This reconfiguration aims to address the challenges posed by the district’s aging facilities, which were built for a student population twice its current size.