LUNENBURG, Mass. -- Regionalizing schools is being considered as a money-saving move by some cities and towns, and now the central Massachusetts communities of Lunenburg, Ayer and Shirley are seeing if they can make it work.

A draft regional school agreement calls for the towns to form a single school district beginning in 2011-2012.

The plan calls for one elementary school in each town, middle schools in Ayer and Lunenburg, and a single high school to be built to serve all three towns.

The draft agreement will be presented at a public meeting Monday night at Lunenburg High School. It would require approval from voters in all three towns. The planning committee is seeking $1.8 million in state assistance to help with the transition to a regional district.

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