WORCESTER, MASS. Building on the Patrick-Murray Administration’s efforts to strengthen partnerships with cities and towns across the Commonwealth, Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray announced a total of $450,000 in regionalization planning and implementation grants that will be distributed to eight school districts statewide. The grants will help school districts explore efficiencies in budgeting through expanded partnerships and increased capacity to improve teaching and learning in schools.

The Patrick-Murray Administration has focused on school district regionalization as a way to help school districts discover new opportunities for shared budgeting to purchase goods and services, build teaching capacity and share best practices and educational approaches to help all students access a 21st century education. Today’s announcement follows the first round of planning grants announced last year, which led to a new partnership between the towns of Ayer and Shirley.

“Our school districts are facing increasing expectations at a time when our resources are most challenged,” said Governor Patrick. “We view regionalization as a real opportunity to help districts achieve efficiency in the way they spend their money and share expertise on what’s working in classrooms.”

The announcement comes as Lieutenant Governor Murray welcomed municipal and planning officials from across the Commonwealth to the 2nd Annual “Regionalization Tool Kit: A Practical Guide to Sharing Municipal Services” Conference held today at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester.

“The Patrick-Murray Administration recognizes and understands the needs of our school districts during these challenging fiscal times,” said Lieutenant Governor
Timothy Murray.  “These planning grants give districts a chance to identify near-term solutions that will deliver long-lasting impacts.”

The planning grants being distributed are supported by funding from the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund as part of the $1.8 billion that Massachusetts received through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Governor Patrick advocated for education to be included in ARRA and directed these funds be utilized for planning for regionalization.

“Regionalization provides school districts of all sizes and locations to make decisions about the best way to fund and operate schools,” said Education Secretary Paul Reville. “We have long been committed to encouraging local conversations about the great potential held in regionalization.”