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Date: 5/9/2023
AMHERST — Plans will move forward for the town’s new elementary school after a May 2 special election ballot resulted in 82% of voters saying “yes” to fund the project.
More than 4,000 residents took part in voting on construction for the Fort River Elementary School. The new school will replace the current Wildwood and Fort River Elementary Schools, offering a 21st century design and meeting the town’s fiscal goals as well as the educational and sustainability needs.
The new project will join the two current school populations under one roof, in an environmentally efficient and net zero compatible environment consistent with and exceeding current ecological standards. Utilizing all electric and no carbon emissions, the new building will also feature daylight and energy saving construction.
The plans have been in the works for more than a decade with many committee and board meetings sifting through the individual plans and proposals. The special election vote authorizes the town to proceed by levying additional property taxes beyond the limits of Proposition 2½.
The Massachusetts School Building Authority had previously voted in favor of the school building project, allowing for more than $40 million toward the construction. Overall the project is estimated to cost just over $99 million and the town is anticipated to be on the hook for over $58 million.
State Rep. Mindy Domb (D-Amherst) applauded the voter turnout and outcome while addressing the crowd at the Jones library funding announcement.
“Our community demonstrated yesterday that we are not afraid to say yes to ambitious projects that are way overdue and that serve a collective goal and interest. Yesterday’s elementary school vote is heartwarming and relevant,” she said.
Domb also praised the voters who considered the issue despite not necessarily being personally impacted by a school improvement project.
“Most voters in yesterday’s election I assume are like me, may not ever have a direct link to someone who is going to attend the new school and yet we came together to express our commitment to the future of our town, our kids and our planet,” Domb added.
The net-zero school construction venture has a June 2026 completion target and will accommodate more than 500 students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Town Councilor Cathy Schoen, who also serves as the chair of the School Building Committee, could not be reached for comment by press time.