The Common
Dear Nashoba Community,
As we break for February vacation, I would like to wish you all well no matter where your travels take you or whether you choose to be home. This is a well earned break in what has been a cold winter for us.
It is important for me to update you all on the state of budget development as it was presented to your School Committee on Wednesday night. The challenge we have been addressing has only grown larger in recent days. On Tuesday we learned that the insurance rates of all of our employees will increase by 19.92% next year. The district assumes 70% of those costs for active employees and the increase over our 12% placeholder comes to an additional $528,000 budget deficit. The additional cost, combined with the estimated $2,122,000 reduction we have already identified for current employees, makes for a $2,650,000 reduction to our level service budget.
When reducing the budget, the first place we began was in the non-salary lines. Through non-salary reductions and revenue offsets we have reduced the budget by $900,000. Those reductions and offsets have been stretched to their limit leaving employee positions as the next place to reduce.
This week, building principals and central office administrators met with employees to discuss the initial round of budget reductions. The following reductions were proposed to the School Committee. Please watch the budget presentation to the School Committee on February 12th to learn the detail and rationale for these reductions. This proposal is subject to change as we continue to work through our budget process and look for creative alternatives to these very difficult decisions:
1.0 Curriculum Director
0% salary increase for all administrators
$50,000 reduction in extracurricular stipends
4.0 Unit A Deans (NRHS, FSS, MRE, HMS)
0.44 Secretary (NRHS)
0.5 Secretary (Center School)
2.0 Custodians
2.0 Occupational Therapy Assistants (replaced with 1 new Occupational Therapis
3.0 Middle School Library Assistants
1.0 Evaluation Team Chair
3.0 Middle School Related Arts
3.4 NRHS Unit A Teachers
1.0 K-8 Guidance Counselor
1.0 Unit A Teacher (Mary Rowlandson Elementary)
1.2 Math Coach (three positions reduced by 0.4 each)
At Nashoba Regional High School, we recognize that any reduction means fewer course options for students, and this is not a decision we take lightly. However, it is a necessary step to maintain appropriate class sizes. We are also mindful of how we rotate elective courses each year to ensure our high school continues to offer a diverse selection of classes while adapting to enrollment demands.
I want to be clear, these reductions do not automatically mean job losses for our employees. We are committed to minimizing the impact of reductions by offering opportunities to affected employees through open positions created by retirements or other factors. That said, some employees may ultimately be laid off.
These reductions are necessary to ensure our budget can pass at annual town meetings. While advocating for a larger budget may seem logical to avoid reductions, we are at risk of the budget failing due to factors that are outside the control of the district due to fiscal constraints and challenges within our towns. We are working closely with officials in all three towns to gain their support on this proposed budget. If we do not secure their backing and the budget does not pass, we will be forced into a level-funded scenario, requiring the layoff of 40 additional employees until a new budget is approved.
At this point, all major cost factors have been accounted for in our budget proposal. Our next step is to identify additional revenue sources that could help offset the proposed reductions. I am working diligently through the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents to advocate for our schools to state legislators. A collective group called United for Our Future has put out a joint statement advocating for changes to school funding so we can meet the demands of these unprecedented times.
I know this is difficult, and I appreciate your patience, dedication, and commitment to our students and one another as we work through these challenges. To help make information about our budget process accessible we have created several important resources including, our Building the Budget informational video, our Finance and Operations Center, and our newly created FY26 Budget Development page which features each new budget update. Beyond this, please stay engaged in this process and make sure you watch the joint finance meeting (To be posted on the Town of Bolton website) on February 25th and the school committee meeting on February 26th to learn how we are adjusting to ever changing fiscal conditions. Your chance to voice your opinion to the School Committee will come on March 6th when we have our annual budget hearing. That meeting will be conducted online and posted to the school website.
I wish you all a wonderful February vacation.
Peace,
Kirk Downing (He/Him)
Superintendent
The Great Road Podcast Highlights What Nashoba Has to Offer
After a successful first season, The Great Road is back for Season 2, and it’s been just as impactful. Episodes have covered topics such as Hale’s No Place for Hate, the Portrait of a Nashoba Graduate work across the high school, and Nashoba Robotics. Great Road's focus continues to be on student voice as they have welcomed a new addition to the team — a student co-host and producer who has been instrumental in planning and recording.
The latest episode of The Great Road takes an in-depth look at the important topic of mental health in athletics. In this episode, Great Road host and co-host sit down with two NRHS students to learn more more about their recent work on this important issue.
To listen to Great Road's latest episode or prior seasons, click here. New episodes drop in The Common and are available on our NRSD homepage. Great Road is here to celebrate all the incredible things happening in NRSD. If you’ve got something special to share, they'd love to hear from you. Reach out to jstefanowicz@nrsd.net, to share your idea!
Upcoming Events for Nashoba SEPAC
Nashoba SEPAC offers virtual and in-person events to families. Up next, SEPAC will host their SEPAC Social on March 11th, 2025. The event will run between 6:30pm - 8:00pm. Check the 2024-2025 SEPAC Calendar of Events below to access the meeting link, along with all other upcoming events!
Illness Season is Here, What Can You Do to Reduce Your Risk of Getting Sick?
The colder months are here and we have entered the peak season for stomach viruses, colds, flu, and other respiratory illnesses. We've listed the best ways for students and families to reduce their risk of contracting and spreading illnesses in school and within the community below.
Hygiene Practices
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before eating.
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
Avoid touching your face.
Use hand sanitizer when soap and water aren't available.
Stay home if you're sick.
Vaccination:
- Get vaccinated against common viruses like influenza, Covid, pertussis, and RSV.
To learn more about illnesses that are common during this time of year, please see the following links: Stomach Virus, Common Respiratory Illness, Strep Throat, and Mycoplasma Pneumoniae. Please reach out to your child’s School Nurse with any further questions or concerns.
Additionally, COVID tests are available for home use at each of our schools. If you are interested in picking up an at-home test, please reach out to the Main Office at your school.
Important Nashoba Regional High School Athletics Information for 2025-2026
We are excited to have you become a part of the Nashoba Regional High School Interscholastic Athletics Program. Nashoba Athletics is rich in pride and tradition. NRHS offers 50+ teams across 26 sports!
Participating at the high school level requires a greater commitment compared to a club or recreational team. Members of a team are expected to attend all practices and competitions. Weekend practice sessions may vary by sport and should be anticipated. In addition, teams do practice and compete over vacations and many holidays (i.e. Indigenous Peoples/Columbus Day, Veterans Day, etc.).
Prior to the start of each season, the high school will host a meeting for students and their parent(s)/guardian(s). These pre-season meetings serve as an opportunity for coaches to provide information about their program, team philosophy, expectations, and more.
The athletics office will send out information via email prior to each season, but we wanted to share information ahead of time for all potential incoming ninth graders. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Tania Rich, Director of Athletics, at trich@nrsd.net. To learn more, check our the NRHS Athletics Site, the NRHS Coaches Directory, and the NRHS Team Schedules - ArbiterLive.
The Nashoba Ski team has kicked off their fund-raising promotion with the Wachusett Ticket Sale Donation Program. For every ticket sold online that uses their coupon code: DON-NRSKI, Wachusett will donate $10.00 to the Ski Team. To purchase a ticket click here, all you'll need to do is select your date and time and add in the above code! Members of the Ski Team field a great deal of cost in their participation. All who participate must cover their Wachusett pass to train, race day tickets, and equipment upkeep.
Positions Available!
Are you looking for a way to earn extra income while maintaining a flexible schedule? Do you want a role that aligns with your child's school hours, or are you a former teacher looking to stay connected to education?
Consider becoming a substitute—opportunities are available! Thank you for considering this meaningful way to support our school. Learn more here!
Nashoba Notable Award! Thank a Nashoba Employee!
Celebrating everyday greatness! Is there a Nashoba teacher or staff member out there who you think deserves some special recognition? Send a Nashoba Notable Award their way! Fill out the form below and thank a Nashoba employee today!
Nashoba Notable Awards thank Nashoba employees for supporting students, families, and their school communities in all ways great and small.
Employees will receive a certificate that includes a brief explanation from the nominator of why they are Nashoba Notable. This form is open to everyone. Students, families, staff and community members can send a Nashoba Notable Award to any Nashoba employee.
There is no limit to the number of Nashoba Notable Awards someone may receive. Thank a Nashoba employee today!
