CMRPC Regional Collaborations staff partner with School Administration and School Committees to assist with challenges related to enrollment, geographic distribution of students, and determining how educational services can be more equitable.
Quabbin Educational & Municipal Partnership
CMRPC helped to form the Quabbin Educational and Municipal Partnership (QEMP), which was a continuation of the work started by the Quabbin School Consolidation Task Force. The QEMP, with representatives from each of the five Quabbin Regional School District towns, broadened its focus to create a more financially suitable future for each town, the school district, and the region. This included, scenario planning for building re-use; regional shared-service strategies; economic development strategies that are regional and town specific; and inter-school district exploration.
Wachusett Regional School District Demographic Analysis
The Wachusett Regional School District (WRSD) 2023 Phase 1 Data project, initiated in December 2023, explored the demographic shifts affecting its five towns: Holden, Paxton, Princeton, Rutland, and Sterling. This initiative marks a pivotal effort to synchronize the district’s educational framework with ongoing demographic transformations, aiming to provide the best possible education for students. By marrying quantitative demographic analysis with qualitative insights from community stakeholders, the project has shed light on the district’s challenges and opportunities in terms of school enrollment, facility readiness, and resource allocation.
Furthermore, the project aims to inform future facility planning efforts, addressing needs for expansions, renovations, or new constructions to accommodate changing enrollment patterns. In early February 2024, CMRPC applied for an Efficiency and Regionalization Grant from the Massachusetts Division of Local Services to fund future community outreach and facilities planning phases.
