Devens School District

The Devens School District was established in 2001. Presently, Devens is a non-operating school district and contracts with the Shirley School District for grades kindergarten through 8, and the Harvard School district for grades 6 through 12. All education and education-related services are provided under these contracts. Both districts have child-centered curricula and feature a high degree of individual attention in classes of 20 students or less.

Students in grades pre-kindergarten through first grade attend school in an existing school facility on Barnum Road at Devens. Other students attend the Lura A. White School or the new middle school in Shirley. Students in grades 6-12 attend the Bromfield School in Harvard. Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 may enroll in either Shirley or Harvard. All students have access to all School Choice and Charter School options available to all students in the Commonwealth.

Assisting MassDevelopment is the Devens Educational Advisory Committee (DEAC). The DEAC is comprised of four elected Devens residents (two of whom must have school-aged children), and one member from each of the school committees of Harvard, Ayer, and Shirley. This committee acts in an advisory capacity to MassDevelopment on all educational matters, including review of all contracts for educational services.

The DEAC is represented on both the Shirley School Committee and the Harvard School Committee as a non-voting member. Devens parents have opportunities to participate on every School Council. For additional information on the Shirley schools, including transportation information, contact Malcolm Reid, Superintendent at 978.425.2630 x410, and for Harvard, Thomas Jefferson, Superintendent 978.456.4140.

MassDevelopment's current contract with the Shirley School System will expire in June 2009. After that, the contract will be re-bid. Under Chapter 498, any school district in Massachusetts may seek to educate the Devens children. The base contract with Harvard expires in 2011; self renews annually, and requires a three year cancellation notice.

In addition to contracts for services, the Devens District could seek to regionalize with other districts, or become an operating system with its own schools. If no satisfactory contract is obtained or other options exercised, the children will then attend schools in the town which historically held jurisdiction over the land where the residence is located.