North Attleborough School Committee Approves School Choice, Files Three State Building Requests

NORTH ATTLEBORO -- February 3, 2020, North Attleborough School Committee votes to open 10 school choice seats and file three building renovation requests with the state. The committee voted 6-0 with one abstention at its February 3 meeting to participate in the Massachusetts school choice program for the first time, offering 10 seats in grade nine at North Attleborough High School, with each participating student generating $5,000 per year in state aid, up to $200,000 over four years if all seats are filled. Superintendent Scott Holcomb cited enrollment data showing a drop from 4,754 students in 2009-2010 to 4,154 in 2020, with projections pointing toward 3,465 by 2030. The committee also voted unanimously to authorize three Massachusetts School Building Authority statements of interest covering the high school, Amvet Boulevard School, and Community School, with the high school application being filed for the fourth consecutive time. The committee separately recognized Arsene Hamard-Zumian of Nezra Engineering, a North Attleborough resident, for donating between $32,000 and $50,000 in engineering services to design a new six-lane track at the high school.