| Purpose: |
The purpose of this state-funded grant program is to support local planning efforts to establish or expand a regional school district, pursuant to Chapter 71, Sections 14-16I. |
| Priorities: |
Priority will be given to districts or municipalities involved in a planning effort to:
join two or more separate municipal or regional school districts into a new regional district;
fully regionalize current regional members; or
expand the membership or grade range of existing regional school districts.
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| Eligibility: |
Eligible school districts and local municipalities are those that provide evidence of:
votes from two or more municipalities to establish a regional planning committee to investigate regionalization;
regional school committee votes to establish a regional planning committee to expand or enlarge the existing region;
votes from two or more municipal school committees to establish a committee to investigate regionalization; or
records of joint meetings held by two or more municipalities or districts for the purpose of discussing the creation or expansion of a regional school district.
Priority will be given to those municipalities or districts that demonstrate a commitment towards implementing a new or expanded regional district and that articulate a specific need for funds to support their efforts. |
| Funding: |
$150,000 is available. Each grant applicant must designate a lead district or municipality that will manage the grant funds. If the applicant is a municipality or municipal district school committee, identify at least two or more municipalities/districts that will participate in the planning activities. Grant awards may be limited to $25,000. |
| Fund Use: |
Districts or municipalities may use these funds to: support planning activities around developing regional agreements; addressing collective bargaining issues; coordinating curriculum, financial, business, or administrative operations; and developing enrollment projections and other restructuring support efforts.
Funds cannot be used to support school construction or renovation feasibility studies or for architectural services. Districts or municipalities that receive these awards will be required to submit a final report to the Department describing how the funds were used and documenting the outcomes of the planning process. |
| Project Duration: | Upon Approval - 6/30/2009 |
| Program Unit: | School Finance and District Support |
| Contact: | Christine M. Lynch clynch@doe.mass.edu |
| Phone Number: | (781) 338-6520 |
| Date Due: |
Friday, November 21, 2008
Competitive proposals must be received at the Department by 5:00 p.m. on the date due. |
| Required Forms: |
 
Part I - General - Program Unit Signature Page - (Standard Contract Form and Application for Program Grants)
Part II Budget Detail Pages (Include both pages.) - Instructions
Part III - Required Program Information
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| Submission Instructions: | Submit two sets, each with an original signature of the Superintendent, Mayor, or Board of Selectmen of the lead district or municipality. Mail to:
School Finance and District SupportChristine M. Lynch
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education
75 Pleasant Street
Malden, MA 02148-5023
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State Government · State Services 
