Government - Page 8

School Committee readies for April 9 vote on geography-based enrollment

March 28, 2026
The Acton-Boxborough School Committee’s historic vote on January 22 to move to a geography-based school assignment model for elementary families overturned a longstanding practice in place since 1972 that assigned students to an elementary school based on families’ rankings of preferred schools (“open enrollment”). The vote to discontinue the practice of open enrollment addressed a number of longstanding concerns about the role this model has played in breeding competition between elementary schools in order to attract families and in creating significant demographic imbalances along socio-economic, racial, and ethnic lines that seemed at odds with the district’s commitment to DEI practices.…

Acton Water District Prepares for New Federal Limits on PFAS

May 7, 2024
On April 10, 2024, the EPA announced the first federal enforceable drinking water regulations for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), and placed concentration limits on some of these chemicals at 4 parts-per-trillion (ppt). The EPA predicts that significant health benefits will result from this action; however, managers of…
A group of 5 people smiling and holding political signs both for and against the override, Andrew Schwartz is also there, holding an Andrew Schwartz for School Committee sign.

Town Election Results and Upcoming Town Meeting

April 30, 2024
Acton Town Elections were held Tuesday, April 30. A total of 6,390 voters cast ballots, 40.65% of the town’s 15,721 registered voters, according to the official results on the Town’s website. “The high voter turnout at the polls energized the workers, and the Clerk office’s delivery of a…
A woman with black hair, big pink glasses, and wearing a purple dress holds an award (the Black Excellence on the Hill Award).

Julie Pierce promotes a vibrant Acton

April 30, 2024
Julie Pierce, Acton’s Economic and Community Development Director, was completely surprised and honored when she recently won a “Black Excellence on the Hill” award from the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus. Unbeknownst to her, State Representative Simon Cataldo, who represents parts of Acton, had nominated her for…
Graph of spending projects from FinCom for the next several years. The projected shortfall goes from 0 in the FY 2025 to $3.38M in FY 2029 (projected).

April 29, 2024 Select Board meeting: Longer than a marathon

April 30, 2024
At the November 6, 2023 Select Board meeting, the Board approved a reorganization that created a Health and Human Services Department. At the April 29, 2024 Board meeting, Town Manager John Mangiaratti introduced Penny (Penelope) Funaiole, Director of Health and Human Services. Ms. Funaiole, who assumed her role…
Woman with blond hair and glasses.

Interview with Acton’s new Health Director

April 30, 2024
Penelope (Penny) Funaiole has been appointed as Acton’s new Health and Family Services Director, replacing the recently retired Sheryl Ball. Her most recent experience was as the Prevention and Outreach Manager for the City of Medford for eight plus years. Prior to that position, she held the position…
Erika Amir-Lin

Q&A with candidate for Acton Water District Commissioner

April 19, 2024
This article is adapted from the website of Green Acton. This year, there is one candidate running for the position of Commissioner of the Acton Water District (AWD): Erika Amir-Lin. This post contains Ms. Amir-Lin’s answers to questions prepared by the Green Acton Water Committee, with the goal…
Acton-Boxborough School Committee Meeting

School Committee April 4 Meeting Update

April 12, 2024
Minimal disruption to school day despite two power outages The Acton-Boxborough Regional High School briefly lost power just prior to the start of the school day on April 4 due to a transformer failure. The power failure occurred just as high school students were stepping off the bus.…
Photo of an Acton Select Board meeting.

Select Board Notes, April 1, 2024: Sewer Setback Distresses Dog Park

April 12, 2024
Residents’ concerns with pedestrian safety and traffic issues led off the April 1, 2024 Select Board meeting. Mr. James Walter, Board Chair of the Infant Toddler Children’s Center on Central Street, described potentially hazardous conditions at pedestrian crosswalks adjacent to the Center, detailing those conditions in a handout.…
Planning Board members James Fuccione, Michaela Moran, Jon Cappetta, and Pat Clifford at March 19 meeting.

March 19, 2024 Planning Board Hearing

April 1, 2024
The Acton Planning Board met on March 19 in the Faulkner Hearing Room in Town Hall. Four members of the Planning Board attended: James Fuccione, Michaela Moran, Jon Cappetta, and Sam Bajwa (remote). Planning Director Kristen Guichard, Senior Planner Kaila Sauer, and Assistant Planner Nora Masler presented to…
Photo of an Acton Select Board meeting.

March 18, 2024 Select Board Notes: Another year, another dam

April 1, 2024
In opening remarks at the March 18, 2024 Select Board meeting, Town Manager John Mangiaratti announced the appointment of Detective Ana Dapkas as school resource officer (SRO), and mentioned that the Police Academy will be offered again this year. (This reporter attended last year’s Police Academy and highly…
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