Stow School Committee to Vote on Sports Academy Approval at April 29 Meeting

STOW -- April 8, 2026, Stow's School Committee deferred a vote on Masters Academy International, a $103 million private boarding school converting the former Bose campus, until its April 29 meeting. Managing Director Rich O'Dell and Head of School Andrew Williams told the committee that investment partner Cognita has committed $103 million to renovating roughly 156,000 square feet of the site, with a September 15 ribbon-cutting planned for 300 students, 200 boarders and 100 day students, from 28 states and 13 foreign countries. Superintendent Kirk Downing told members he would "enthusiastically recommend" approval under MGL Chapter 76, Section 1. The committee also debated school choice for 2026-27, including whether to raise the freshman cap above four seats, asking Superintendent of Finance and Operations Ross Moccarin to take another look before the April 29 hearing. Bolton resident Pam Dean used public comment to flag a more than 500 percent surge in special education transportation costs, from $275,000 in FY2024 to $1.6 million in FY2026, and asked the district to post its in-house management analysis publicly.