Tewksbury Schools Face Funding Cuts Amid MBTA Communities Law Noncompliance

Tewksbury Public Schools will not receive certain state grant funding for fiscal year 2026 due to the town’s noncompliance with the MBTA Communities Act. This law requires 177 municipalities in eastern Massachusetts to create zoning that allows for the development of multifamily housing by right. Tewksbury is among over a dozen towns that have yet to comply after a Town Meeting in 2024 overwhelmingly rejected a proposed zoning change.

During the December 17, 2023 School Committee meeting, Superintendent of Schools Brenda Theriault-Regan reported that the district was informed it is “currently ineligible for certain educational grant funding due to the town of Tewksbury’s noncompliance with the MBTA Communities Act.” The funding affected includes an Early College planning grant of $50,000, an Early College designation funding grant of $250,000 over five years, and a time-out practices implementation grant also worth $50,000. Theriault-Regan noted that the latter grant is intended to help the district align with new regulations from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education regarding “seclusion and restorative practices.”

The superintendent expressed concern about the implications of this funding loss, stating, “DESE also shared with us that Tewksbury Public Schools’ participation in current 2026 state-funded grants and future grants remains at risk until the town remediates this compliance issue.”

Earlier in December 2023, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey announced that some districts, including Wachusett Regional High School and South Shore Vocational Technical, were mistakenly informed that they were ineligible for Credit for Life grant awards. A spokesperson from the state Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation confirmed that the error was rectified, allowing those districts to qualify for the funding.

Theriault-Regan raised concerns about the potential impact on students, saying, “We are very much concerned that our students could lose out on the programs and resources we depend on through grant funding, especially for factors outside the School Department’s control.” She also expressed hope that state leaders would reconsider how educational grant funding is distributed, particularly in light of compliance with the MBTA Communities Act.

In a phone conversation, Tewksbury Select Board Chair Mark Kratman, a vocal critic of the MBTA Communities law, lamented the lack of communication from the state regarding grant eligibility. “When the schools try to reach out, they are not getting a clear answer,” Kratman said. “When they are applying for grants, we are getting crickets.” He emphasized that grants are taxpayer dollars intended to be equitably distributed among communities.

Tewksbury is not alone in facing compliance issues; neighboring towns such as Dracut and Wilmington are also out of compliance with the MBTA Communities Act. Towns that do not comply risk additional penalties, including the imposition of a special master who could enforce a version of the required zoning changes without local input.

As the situation unfolds, Tewksbury Public Schools is committed to collaborating with town and state officials to resolve these compliance issues and secure essential resources for their students. The future of educational funding in Tewksbury may hinge on the town’s ability to align with the MBTA Communities Act, highlighting the intersection of local governance and state educational policy.