Regional School Committee Adopts Budget with 5.13% Increase

The Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee (RSC) voted at their meeting on March 14, to approve a FY26 budget that would ask each of the four towns to increase their allocation by 6.5% over last year. This would result in an overall budget increase of 5.13%, because state aid only increased by 1.89%. The vote was 8-0-1 with Irv Rhodes (Amherst) abstaining.

This budget would still necessitate $812,126 in cuts over a level funded budget, but would likely restore the teaching positions at the middle school, allowing for the continuation of the teamsframework and would likely restore two of the four counselors slated to be cut at the high school. It would still require the elimination of 11 or 12 positions between the two schools and administration.

The difference in assessment for Amherst over the 4% increase in the Finance Committee and Town Manager’s recommendation is $470, 958. The RSC’s budget must be passed by three of the four towns in the region (Amherst, Pelham, Leverett, and Shutesbury) at their annual town meetings and by the Amherst Town Council. The Shutesbury and Leverett town meetings are scheduled for April 26, and Pelham town meeting will be held May 10. Amherst Town Council must approve the budget by June 30.

Initially, the committee voted on a slightly lower budget that would have required $1,002,268 in cuts and asked Amherst for a 5.49% increase, while asking the other three towns for 6.5% increases each. That 5-4 vote failed to get a two-thirds vote, with Deb Leonard (Amherst), Bridget Hynes (Amherst), William Sherr (Pelham), and Anna Heard (Shutesbury) all voting no because they preferred to ask the towns for a larger amount and have the same increase for all four towns. The Amherst representatives to the RSC worried that the Amherst Town Council would reject the 6.5% increase, and that attaining a 5.5% increase would be difficult enough. However, Heard said that Amherst paying less of an increase “won’t play well in Shutesbury.” She then suggested that the three smaller towns could pay extra to bring them closer to the statutory method preferred by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

In arguing for the lesser Amherst percentage, Sarah Marshall said that she needs to consider all Amherst students and not just those in the regional schools and that the elementary schools are also facing a large deficit. A discussion of the Amherst elementary school budget is scheduled for March 18, with the vote expected the following week.

Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman admitted that the schools were taking a risk of not having an approved budget, no matter which option they chose, but it was important to start with what is best for the students. If the towns do not approve a budget, the school will operate on a month-to-month budget specified by DESE until a full year budget is approved.

Deb Leonard noted that Amherst has had a substantial budget surplus over the past several years, and she feels that some of that surplus should be able to go to the schools, even if it is for operating costs. This has not been the case in the past when the Town Manager has used the free cash for municipal expenses and the town’s capital fund.

Leonard Asks for Funds for Mold Abatement at the Middle School
The $485,000 capital budget for the regional schools was also approved unanimously by the RSC, but only after a lengthy discussion about the mold in the middle school. Deb Leonard suggested that $500,000 be used to assess and remediate the existing mold, which she stated was a health hazard to students and staff. Leonard said that the amount of free cash allocated to roads and sidewalks in Amherst was reduced by $500,000 by the Town Council last fall, with the intention to give the money to the schools.

Herman admitted that mold was a problem in the school, but that the worst area was closed to students and staff, and there was no imminent danger of mold exposure. However, with a new facilities director starting this year, she wanted a chance to do an assessment of both regional schools and create a plan for all capital projects.

Marshall speculated that the mold was likely due to the leaking roof at the middle school, so it did not make sense to take care of the mold before fixing the roof. Finance Director Shannon Bernacchia said she would need to check with the school’s treasurer to determine if the extra expense was allowed.

Because the RSC is required to approve a budget at least 40 days prior to the first town meeting on April 26, they voted unanimously to approve the capital plan that includes $20,000 for asbestos abatement, $10,000 for repair of infrared electrical system distribution, $50,000 for HVAC upgrades at the high school, $150,000 for an auditorium curtain at the high school, $15,000 for house lights in the auditorium at the high school, $20,000 for repaving the high school parking lot, $50,000 for a walk-in cooler and freezer at the middle school, $100,000 for fire safety system at the middle school, $20,000 for repaving the west parking lot at the middle school, and $50,000 for theater curtains at the middle school. The total capital bond authorization is $485,000