North Middlesex School Committee Extends Vanpool Contract, Accepts $20,000 Health Grant

School Committee · Meeting of February 24, 2026

TOWNSEND — North Middlesex School Committee votes to extend Vanpool contract and accept $20,000 community health grant. The committee voted 6-1 Tuesday to approve a two-year extension of its special education transportation contract with Vanpool at a minimum 4 percent annual rate increase for fiscal years 2027 and 2028, with member Kim Craven abstaining after asking administrators to seek fuel-cost concessions from the vendor. The committee also voted unanimously to accept a $20,000 FY26 Nashoba Valley Community Health Grant from the Community Foundation of North Central Massachusetts, to be used for student telehealth access, staff mental health first aid training, and a fall 2026 community health fair.

Pre-K tuition was held flat for the 2026-2027 school year on a 5-0-2 vote, with members Randy Rush and Carla Lima abstaining pending written comparisons to neighboring districts. Community advocate Jennifer Forrest told the committee that the number of underfunded "hold harmless" school districts statewide has grown from 211 to 272, pressing members to support a March 23 state funding hearing in Lawrence.

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Source: the School Committee meeting of February 24, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.