AMHERST — A new roof for most of the Amherst Regional Middle School building, where leaks are blamed for falling ceiling debris and may be contributing to mold and mildew, could be installed in summer 2026.
Before the four towns that make up the region are approved for the $9.83 million project by the Massachusetts School Building Authority, and made eligible for a nearly 62% reimbursement, though, the Amherst Regional School Committee will need to vote and authorize the funding, with possible action by the four towns, as well.
The committee’s vote could come Sept. 23.
“The urgency for voting now is so we can complete this project next summer,” Shannon Bernachhia, executive director of operations and finance for the schools, told the committee on Tuesday.
By doing the project at that time, this aligns with when Amherst sixth graders will be moving into the building, joining seventh and eighth graders from Shutesbury, Leverett, Pelham and Amherst, along with when Amherst will have its new K-5 elementary school open.
Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman told the committee that her team is working diligently with representatives with MSBA’s accelerated repair program, and are also doing outreach to the towns, with the language for a possible warrant article provided to Shutesbury officials in advance of its special Town Meeting on Sept. 30.
Pelham could hold a special Town Meeting in October, while Amherst Town Council could act this fall, as well. Leverett is not scheduled to have a Town Meeting until next spring.
Bernacchia and Michael Gallo O’Connell, director of operations for the schools, are working with Vertex, as the owner’s project manager, to complete the application for the roof design.
Gallo O’Connell said everything except the auditorium section, which didn’t qualify for the program, will be rehabilitated, including the sections over the gym and classrooms, as well as the library, where buckets are set up to collect leaks from the roof.
Bernacchia said the towns would only borrow the portion they are on the hook for, or about $4.2 million.
In 2019, the committee voted for a $3 million debt authorization, some of which has been used to make repairs. The estimate for the cost of work at that time was $2.47 million. The towns will be apportioned their share based on how capital expenses are normally divided, Bernacchia said.
“I don’t think it’s a big increase for the towns over what we had been prepared to do,” said Amherst representative Sarah Marshall.
Leverett representative Tim Shores said the roof needs to be repaired, but wondered what had prompted the six-year delay.
Committee Chairwoman Sarahbess Kenney said the project wasn’t accepted into the program until last year.