NASHOBA REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT — The Nashoba Regional School Committee on March 26 heard a multi‑school plan that moves Spanish into the related‑arts program and preserves all existing related‑arts offerings while reducing eighth‑grade sections to align with enrollment.

The model bundles year‑long, school‑based courses (music, physical education and Spanish) with district‑based rotating specialists for art, engineering and health delivered on trimester rotations. Assistant Superintendent Laura Friend said the plan reduces eighth‑grade sections from five to four to “better meet student enrollment needs” and spreads impacts across schools.

Administrators emphasized equity and continuity. Principal Kyle Grady (Hale Middle School) explained that music, PE and Spanish would meet twice per cycle year‑round, while art, engineering and health would be taught in one trimester each and rotate between schools so every student receives each subject by year’s end. The model includes a “RAS plus” slot for an extra related‑arts session that can deepen learning; band and other instrumental lessons are scheduled during that period for rehearsals and performance preparation.

Superintendent Kirk Downing and principals Joel Bates (Florence Sawyer School) and Sean O’Shea (Luther Burbank Middle School) told the committee the plan was developed to preserve programming within current staffing and to honor negotiated agreements with the teachers association. Downing said the approach “optimizes our resources while also maintaining all the working agreements that are in the negotiated agreement.”

Committee members asked how the model will affect preparation for high‑school languages. Assistant Superintendent Friend said the district is coordinating middle‑ and high‑school teachers, including high‑school world‑language department chair Maria Davis, to develop scope, sequence and professional collaboration so students have pathways to reach Spanish 2 and beyond. District leaders noted the model gives most cohorts up to three years of middle‑school Spanish exposure (current fifth graders would get three years; current seventh graders, one year) and that students can still begin Spanish 1 in ninth grade and progress to higher levels at the high school.

Several members and principals said scheduling logistics were complex. The proposed day structure includes four academic blocks, two related‑arts blocks and a daily “wind” block (seven blocks total). Administrators said instrument lessons, chorus and band rehearsals were incorporated so students in performance ensembles could still meet and prepare for concerts.

The presentation was informational; the committee did not vote on the operational change. Administrators asked committee members and the community to use upcoming communications channels and school councils to ask questions and provide feedback as the district finalizes schedules and staffing for 2025–26.