Please save the date Monday 2/2 for an Amherst Town Council meeting that will include Amherst’s state representatives. Details to follow but we need to mobilize for this regarding the Amherst Elementary and Regional funding for next year.
Amherst Elementary Schools – Preliminary numbers show a $2 million deficit which would translate to roughly 20 positions. There is no information yet in terms of what that means in terms of programs and staff. You can see more details of the December budget presentation here. Slide #14 shows cost increases, including a $1 million dollar increase for insurance which is a significant driver of this crisis. An updated budget will be presented at the February Amherst School Committee meeting.
Regional Schools – Preliminary numbers show somewhere between a $2-3 million deficit. The numbers are more uncertain there because the deficit depends in large part on how much each of the four towns (Amherst, Pelham, Shutesbury and Leverett) are willing and able to contribute to the Region for next year. The Regional budget is on the agenda for discussion at Tuesday’s School Committee meeting, with this updated document laying out some of the details. While costs have risen significantly, state aid has only increased 0.36% which is a huge part of the problem – the state is failing to sufficiently fund our schools.
Pelham Elementary School – Pelham is facing a very difficult budget year, with the Chair of the Finance Committee indicating that Pelham does not have sufficient funds to give any increase at all to the Elementary Schools and very little to the Region, causing an escalating crisis. Dr. Xi and the Pelham School Committee have begun discussing various possibilities including combining grades, transitioning the 6th grade to join Amherst, and potentially closing the school in the future and tuitioning students into the Amherst district. You can see more details from Thursday’s presentation here. The recording of the meeting is available here. Daily Hampshire Gazette coverage here. Impacted families are asking that alternatives be considered, that the town and district allow time for a possible override vote before making decisions, and that all avenues be explored to keep PES open. They are also asking that long term planning happen in a deliberate manner with community feedback considered.
There are several upcoming opportunities for families to voice their thoughts on this:
- Dr. Xi is meeting with Pelham families on 1/29 (info was distributed via Parent Square to Pelham families).
- There is a Joint Meeting of Pelham, Amherst and the Regional School Committee on Tuesday 1/27 at 6:30 in the Town Hall (moved from ARHS library due to snow) where families can make public comments. Options are in-person, via voicemail (413-362-1891 by 3 p.m. on the day of the meeting – must be under 3 minutes) or by emailing the Pelham School Committee at PelhamSchoolCommittee@arps.org
- There is a Pelham Select Board Virtual Meeting on 1/29 at 7pm. Details can be found here. The Pelham Finance Committee can be emailed at finance@pelhamma.gov.
- There is also a Pelham School Committee meeting on 2/3 at 5:30 pm in-person at the Pelham Library where public comment can be made. The Pelham School Committee can be emailed at PelhamSchoolCommittee@arps.
org. You can also leave a voicemail at 413-362-1891 by 3pm on 2/3. - In addition to any local advocacy, families should contact state Representative Aaron Saunders (Aaron.Saunders@mahouse.gov) and State Senator Joanne Comerford (jo.comerford@masenate.gov) as this mess is really one caused by the state and a chronic lack of sufficient funding to keep our schools open and functioning. Every year, local communities are being asked to foot a larger share of education costs and Pelham is reaching a breaking point.