PELHAM — District leaders are being advised by the Pelham School Committee to keep next year’s sixth graders enrolled at Pelham Elementary School, limit any efforts to combine grades and undertake outreach work that might increase school choice enrollment.
The committee on Tuesday, in its first meeting since various options were presented on Jan. 22 for closing a significant budget gap that might include sending this year’s fifth graders to Amherst next fall, gave Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman a series of recommendations designed to strengthen the school and ensure long-term sustainability.
Faced with an $87,413 deficit in the $1.89 million town appropriation for fiscal year 2027 that would be needed to maintain level services, and uncertainty about covering next year’s assessment for the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools, the committee asked Herman to keep intact the current program as much as possible, and not set out any plan that could lead to the school’s closure.
“My recommendation would be to commit to keeping the school as is, as it is presently structured,” said committee member William Sherr.
This means no combined kindergarten and first grade, no tuition-in model to the sixth grade school in Amherst, to be known as the Chestnut Street Academy, and to use more school choice money as a bridge for the next year, while planning for sustainability.
Committee member Rachel Figurasmith said her recommendation would be to keep sixth graders in Pelham and strive to have 15 more school choice students, observing that the school has been able to have so many families choice in with virtually no advertising. Of the 127 students, 66 are school choice.
“I imagine that 15 students coming in is possible, and that would mean a salary of a teacher,” Figuramsith said.
If a combination grade needs to be explored, that should be at grades 1 and 2, she said, so the school can prioritize bringing in students who start their academic careers in Pelham.
Committee member Sarahbess Kenney said based on her own experience with her children, Pelham offers a great social-emotional space.
“I think it’s an area Pelham really excels in,” Kenney said, adding that having sixth graders go to Amherst, “I don’t think it’s the best thing for our students.”
“I think we should also keep sixth graders here, the changes make it very possible to do that,” said Chairwoman Margaret Stancer.
To maintain a $2.81 million budget for the elementary school, the town would need to appropriate $1.89 million, though the town Finance Committee intends to level fund the appropriation at $1.8 million.
Herman said she still may need to have a priority list, but projections have improved with the release of Gov. Maura Healey’s budget, and the health insurance increase dropping from 18% to 8.5%.
Herman said she will continue to update the numbers.
“We’ll pull our team together and work using the recommendations and guidance to develop a budget for FY 27,” Herman said.
Stancer said district leaders should plan for sustainability starting immediately.
The committee will help by creating an advisory group and looking at additional outreach opportunities. There should also be a community forum, with budget hearing dates so trust can be rebuilt.
“I think folks feel very startled,” Figurasmith said.
In her fifth year as principal, Micki Darling said school staff are so dedicated and well trained and she has confidence in the central office, as well. “We will figure it out, we always do” observing that “we have a lot of really smart, talented people.”
Like at previous meetings, there were a combination of both oral and written comments from current and future caregivers.
Those who wrote, such as Hannah Staiger, stated that fifth graders should not leave the school next year “and whatever changes need to happen are allowed the required time for proper change management to promote success and foster trust with our students, parents, teachers, and administration alike.”
“A school like Pelham Elementary thrives precisely because it is embedded in a smaller town where relationships are strong, families are invested and children are truly known,” wrote resident Molly Crookes. “Removing that school would fundamentally change the character of the town and weaken the fabric of the community it serves.”
“We are needing to be reactive now, but let’s not be too short-sighted, potentially losing the possibilities of a more long-term strategy for the viability and success of the Pelham and the heart of its community, the elementary school,” wrote resident Erin Thornbury.
“Our little school allows for a level of attention and a sense of
belonging that, despite their many strengths, can’t be matched by the larger schools in
Amherst, Hadley, and elsewhere,” wrote resident Jody Segar.