Monday, October 26, 2015

Amherst Elementary School Building Project: Community Forum Today/Tonight at AHRS 3:30pm and 7pm

The next Community Forum will be TONIGHT, October 26 in the ARHS Auditorium. Similar to last month's forum, there will be two identical sessions. The first will begin at 3:30pm and the second will begin at 7pm. Hear the rationale for the recommendation for grade reconfiguration and offer feedback. Spanish translation and childcare will be available for both sessions. 

ARPS administrators presented the Elementary School Education Program to the School Committee at the Amherst School Committee meeting on October 20. This is a required step in the MSBA process. The presentation is available here:

The School Committee Agenda and Meeting packet from October 20 is here (pages 11 - 39 are the Education Program): http://www.arps.org/…/…/ASC%20Agenda%20Packet%2010.20.15.pdf


Here is a link to video of the Amherst School Committee meeting on 10/20/15. Approximately the first hour is public comments, and the presentation on the Amherst Elementary School Building project starts on 1:06:17 and ends on 2:20:53: https://archive.org/details/94351School102115

Here is the Gazette article about the meeting, published October 21:

Among the three options being considered in the Feasibility Study, Superintendent Maria Geryk recommended that the School Committee reconfigure the elementary schools into grade wide schools serving all Amherst students. The Crocker Farm school would enroll children in grades pre K to 1, and a new building (location to be determined) would serve students in grades 2 through 6. Under this reconfiguration the Wildwood and Fort River buildings would no longer be in use by the district. The other options being considered would include new or renovated facilities for Wildwood alone. There is no state funding available at this time to renovate or rebuild Fort River unless the reconfiguration option is chosen. Regardless of the option chosen, it would need to be considered at Town Meeting and will necessitate an override.

Answers to frequently asked questions about the project can be found here:

The School Committee is scheduled to vote on the recommendation on November 3. The School Committee welcomes and encourages feedback and comments. Please send your remarks using the contact information below. It is important for all interested stakeholders to have their opinions heard. 

 Katherine Appy appyk@arps.org
Vira Douangmany Cage douangmanyv@arps.org
Phoebe Hazzard hazzardp@arps.org
Rick Hood hoodr@arps.org
Kathleen Traphagen traphagenk@arps.org