Nashoba Regional School Committee Unanimously Extends Three Town School Leases for 20 Years

STOW — June 29, 2026 — Nashoba Regional School Committee extends three municipal school building leases in a short-notice session called two days before expiration. The committee voted 8-0 three times Monday evening to extend identical 20-year leases with the towns of Lancaster, Stow, and Bolton — each originally signed July 1, 2006 — through June 30, 2046, authorizing Superintendent Kirk Downing to notify each town of the district's intent to extend. Assistant Superintendent Ross Mulcaurn told the committee the vote was "end of the year housekeeping," with district legal counsel advising that acting before the July 1 expiration was best practice to avoid reopening the agreements to full renegotiation. Member Scott Powell, while voting yes, said he was "troubled by the way this has come about," objecting that the committee had no opportunity to deliberate whether 20-year terms still serve the district's interests; Superintendent Downing acknowledged the criticism and accepted responsibility for the compressed timeline. The committee added a review of the own-versus-lease question to its 2026-27 planning calendar.