Concord Middle School Solar Project Loses Grant, Pivots to Power Purchase Agreement

CARLISLE — May 20, 2026 — Carlisle School Committee hears solar grant rejected, budget frozen, and math gaps flagged. The joint pre-K through 8 committee session on May 20 included a report from Concord Municipal Light Plant that the district's middle school solar project was not among the recipients of a state school works grant that attracted 61 applicants seeking $138 million against only $19 million in available funds, with $18.5 million of that going to heating and cooling projects. The light plant is now pursuing a power purchase agreement with private developers, who have said materials are on hand and a summer installation window may still be reachable pending documentation. School business official Bob reported that Concord Public Schools has frozen its budget and may need to draw on approximately $600,000 in circuit breaker reserves to close a year-end gap driven by legal costs and a costly heating season, with a roughly $180,000 homeless transportation reimbursement expected to ease pressure in fiscal year 2027. Curriculum director Shelly presented early findings from a pre-K through 12 math review, noting that Everyday Math is no longer state-sanctioned and that the district lacks dedicated math specialists at the elementary level — a formal budget ask expected in the next cycle. The Bruce Freeman Rail Trail connection project received a $25,000 anonymous donation and has sent an RFQ to eight or nine contractors, targeting a 2027 construction completion.