Sannicandro, Spilka Restore $500,000 For Overcrowded Ashland Schools

State Representative Tom Sannicandro and State Senator Karen Spilka restored $500,000 to mitigate overcrowding in Ashland schools this week, overriding a veto by Governor Charlie Baker last week.

Ashland general school funding increased $62,350 from last year. On top of that increase, Ashland schools also received an additional $500,000 to mitigate student overcrowding.

Ashland is facing overcrowding problems.

Warren Elementary School, serving grades K-2, is particularly crowded and has resorted to short-term fixes, including the use of four modular classrooms.

Mindess Elementary School, serving grades 3-5 in the district’s oldest building, will build out modules in the near future.

The district’s assistant superintendent, School Committee, teachers, and parents have convened a task force charged with making long-term, sustainable recommendations to alleviate overcrowding.

“Investing in the Ashland public school system will improve the quality of students’ education through smaller classrooms, more teachers, increases in individualized instruction, and better classroom materials,” Sannicandro said, in a press release. “Education investments are vital to the future success of the state and are what have kept Massachusetts ahead of the nation with a low unemployment rate, high percentage of its workers holding college degrees, high average salary, and high levels of innovation and entrepreneurship.”

“This final budget makes strategic investments to lift families across the Commonwealth, with a focus on supporting high-quality educational opportunities at all stages of life,” said Spilka, in a press release.