Abington Schools Vote to Exit School Choice Program Amid Budget Uncertainty and Rising Enrollment
ABINGTON - November 25 - In a unanimous decision Tuesday evening, the Abington School Committee voted to opt out of the state’s school choice program for the 2026-27 school year, citing significant budget concerns and already high class sizes across the district. The vote, which came after a brief public hearing that drew no attendees, reflects the school district’s cautious approach to planning amid what Superintendent Dr. Felicia Moschella described as “unknown budget issues” facing the district and town.
The Full Story
Dr. Moschella presented her recommendation to the committee, explaining that accepting school choice students could exacerbate already-crowded classrooms without generating sufficient revenue to offset the increased costs. She cited fourth grade enrollment as a key example, noting that the current 179 fourth-grade students would become approximately 179 fifth-graders next year, translating to roughly 26 students per class.
“If we were to open up for school choice for grade five, that would increase those classes with most likely not enough revenue to buy another teacher,” Dr. Moschella told the committee. “So it would increase the existing structure that we have and not bring in enough revenue to offset that.”
School choice provides approximately $6,000 per student in state funding, but school committee members and administrators emphasized that accepting even a small number of students could have long-lasting budget implications. Once a school district accepts a student through school choice, it must guarantee that student a seat through 12th grade, regardless of future decisions to opt out of the program.
Committee member Pamela Neely raised an important logistical concern: “We don’t have currently, correct me if I’m wrong, we don’t have excess space. It’s not like we have classrooms that are currently vacant.” Dr. Moschella confirmed this, adding that the district cannot selectively accept school choice students based on their service needs. Any student who applies must be considered equally, whether they require minimal services or extensive special education support.
Committee Chair Christopher Coyle asked whether the district could place parameters on school choice participation, such as accepting a limited number of students in specific grades. Dr. Moschella explained that districts can set such restrictions—for example, accepting only five ninth-graders or 20 first-graders—but those students then progress through the system year after year, with the option to backfill in subsequent years creating cumulative enrollment growth.
The decision to opt out does not affect Abington students’ ability to attend other districts through school choice; it only prevents Abington from accepting students from surrounding communities. Dr. Moschella emphasized that the opt-out is specifically for the 2026-27 school year and that the committee would need to revisit the decision annually.
In addition to the school choice decision, the meeting featured extensive updates on district operations and achievements. Tim Leonelli delivered an enthusiastic report on the music department’s remarkable fall season, highlighted by the Abington Champions Marching Band earning their second Group 1 Regional U.S. Massachusetts State Championship title with a program score of 90.5. The band also performed at America’s Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration Parade in Plymouth, which will be broadcast nationally.
“We pride ourselves on that to make sure that we share what we all do, even with notes and rhythms and dancing flags,” Leonelli said. “We do wanna share what we do really well and hopefully inspire and engage our community.”
Leonelli also announced that three students—Greg Fish, Hope Murtaugh, and Leah Day—were accepted to represent Abington at the district-level vocal ensemble, with all three receiving recommendations to audition for the all-state ensemble. He noted that this level of achievement “hasn’t happened in my time here.” The music department continues to see strong high school enrollment, with 46 students in band this year, including 11 half-year students, representing a significant increase from previous years.
However, Leonelli acknowledged challenges at the elementary level, where grade five and six band enrollment has declined. He attributed this partially to economic factors, as instrument prices have “skyrocketed” in recent years. A saxophone that might have cost $800 per student now runs $1,500. Despite these challenges, Leonelli reported that the district has been able to provide instruments to students who need them, thanks to support from the Abington Arts Council and donations, including $20,000 worth of marching percussion instruments from Boston College.
Committee member Heidi Hernandez raised concerns about high school scheduling conflicts preventing students from taking music classes alongside Advanced Placement courses. Leonelli confirmed that the district offers only one section each of high school band and chorus, creating unavoidable conflicts for some students. He noted that approximately 50% of potential band students from eighth grade either attend a different school or cannot fit music into their schedules.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Christopher Basta presented highlights from the third annual “Abington Innovates” professional development day held on November 4th. The half-day event, held on Election Day when students were not in school, allowed certified staff to select from a menu of workshops, most presented by Abington educators themselves. Sessions on social-emotional learning, trauma-informed education, and teacher self-care proved most popular. Dr. Basta noted that some support staff members who were not scheduled to work that day voluntarily attended sessions.
Dr. Moschella shared details about a groundbreaking collaboration with Abington Police and Fire departments. In late October, all district principals, along with members of both departments, spent a day with a trainer from Connecticut conducting tabletop exercises for emergency preparedness. Using satellite imaging of each school building, administrators and first responders discussed response plans for various emergency scenarios.
“I think we all left there feeling like wow this is a lot but also the power of all of us coming together and spending that day together,” Dr. Moschella said. The district committed to continuing regular tabletop discussions with public safety officials.
Director of Finance and Operations Sarah Gainey presented the fiscal year 2026 salary and expense budget allocations, providing insight into the district’s budgeting process. She explained that salary calculations begin with contractual obligations, negotiated increases, steps and lanes, and known staffing changes, while expense budgets account for special education, transportation, instructional needs, utilities, and technology. The district monitors spending biweekly through payroll cycles and warrants to ensure alignment with projections.
“In staying on top of it and maintaining that constant oversight is truly the key to success,” Gainey told the committee. “You’re creating these numbers up front and keeping on track all throughout the year to make sure that you’re going to finish out the year staying within the budget.”
Gainey presented proposed allocations of $24,781,792 for salaries and $7,572,473 for expenses, totaling $32,354,265 for the FY26 budget. She noted that budget problems typically emerge on the expense side, often from unexpected special education placements or facilities emergencies, rather than from salary lines which are largely predictable. Dr. Moschella added that in her 18 years of budget work, when unexpected expenses arise, “it will be very specific something that we can point to,” such as a high-cost out-of-district placement or a major facilities failure. The committee unanimously approved the allocations.
Communications updates revealed strong adoption of the new Thrillshare/Rooms platform. Director of Technology Rich Bykowski reported that 89% of staff members have activated their accounts, with 69% using the platform during October. On the parent side, 85% of guardians have activated accounts, with 88% of those active in October. The district sent 4,143 messages to families during October, with guardians sending 3,789 messages back.
“I’m especially excited about the guardians being connected because that’s a hoop to jump through on their end,” Bykowski said. The platform automatically translates messages into home languages, though Bykowski acknowledged the transition from the previous platform hasn’t been entirely smooth for English Language Learner families who tend to rely more on WhatsApp than email.
Director of Student Services Dr. Robbins received approval for a home education program request for the remainder of the current school year. School Principals Julie Thompson and Melanie Savicke updated the committee on facilities and safety initiatives, including regular emergency drills, ALICE protocol training for all new hires, and ongoing facilities monitoring at both Beaver Brook and Woodsdale elementary schools.
Thompson noted that while the district is not yet in a position to request funding for a feasibility study through the Massachusetts School Building Authority due to the town’s financial challenges, both elementary buildings are aging facilities requiring careful monitoring and maintenance. Committee members expressed concern about the timeline for any potential building project, noting that even if a feasibility study were requested in spring 2027, a new school building would not open for six to eight years, making ongoing maintenance investments unavoidable.
Gainey reported that the district has obtained quotes to replace the heating system at Beaver Brook if necessary. The primary concern involves heating pipes buried in the concrete slab that date back 60 to 70 years. Committee Vice Chair Heidi Hernandez pressed for contingency plans, asking about “plan B’s or C D up to F for things that could potentially break and not be able to have serviceable parts anymore.”
In his first official report to the committee, student representative Andrew Van Luling provided an enthusiastic overview of recent school activities. He reported that the fall play, “The Curse of the Bard,” was performed successfully, with the spring musical “Into the Woods” already announced. Boys soccer won their first-ever Patriot League title and reached the Elite Eight in playoffs, while football also won the league title and made the Elite Eight. Girls cross country qualified for the all-state meet for the first time, and cheer qualified for states, with Van Luling noting they “hit, which is apparently a good thing.”
Van Luling offered candid insights on the district’s phone policy, now in its second year. “From a student’s perspective obviously not being able to use your phones during class time is not fun but it’s very productive,” he said. “Over the past two years... there’s been more school spirit. A lot of people have just been like talking actually in bridge block which is quite interesting, and a lot more students have been able to get more help from teachers.”
The committee also learned about upcoming events, including Spirit Week leading to the Turkey Day rivalry football game against Whitman-Hanson, the junior class auction fundraiser on December 4th, and various music performances throughout December.
Why It Matters
The decision to opt out of school choice for 2026-27 reflects the difficult balancing act facing Abington schools as they navigate budget uncertainty while maintaining educational quality. For Abington families, it means the district is prioritizing manageable class sizes and adequate resources for current students over the additional revenue that school choice students might bring. However, with elementary school buildings aging, heating systems requiring potential replacement, and the possibility of state aid cuts on the horizon, the district faces challenging decisions about both short-term maintenance investments and long-term facility planning. Parents should expect continued careful monitoring of spending, potential adjustments to programs or purchases if unexpected expenses arise, and likely renewed discussion about school choice participation in future years if budget conditions improve.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: Approve or amend minutes from October 28, 2025 meeting. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:02:04)
Motion: Approve home education program request for remainder of school year. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:02:39)
Motion: Opt Abington Public Schools out of school choice for the 2026-27 school year. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 0:37:27)
Motion: Approve fiscal year 2026 salary and expense allocation totaling $32,354,265 ($24,781,792 for salaries and $7,572,473 for expenses). Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:17:28)
Motion: Adjourn meeting. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous. (Timestamp: 1:19:27)
Public Comment
A public hearing on school choice participation for 2026-27 was held at the start of the meeting. No members of the public came forward to comment. No additional public comment was offered during the general visitors portion of the agenda.
What’s Next
The next Abington School Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. in the Middle High School Library. The meeting will begin with a public hearing on the district budget. The junior class auction fundraiser will be held December 4th at 6:00 p.m. in the middle/high school cafeteria. Various PTO meetings and early release days are scheduled throughout December, with holiday break running from December 23, 2025 through January 1, 2026.