AMHERST — The Amherst School Committee is holding off on turning over the 108,000-square-foot Wildwood School building and the 14.3-acre property to the town until members learn if they can have any say in its future use.
Despite a request from Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman for the committee to vote to relinquish the 71 Strong St. site, which will no longer be used as a school in the upcoming 2026-2027 school year, committee members said they would first like to know if they can direct the Town Council and municipal staff on what happens at the location, which has been a school since 1970.
Committee member Laura Jane Hunter said she would like clarity on what guidance the committee can have in that future process. Similarly, committee member Bridget Hynes said she would like to get an opinion from the school attorney whether stipulations can be written into the vote when turning over the building.
Herman said Wildwood is technically a town building that has been under school authorization and so it’s possible school officials might be able to assert some demands on how it is used.
The town’s fiscal year 2027 budget already earmarks capital funding for community visioning sessions regarding the property. Residents have floated an array of adaptive reuse concepts, stretching from new housing initiatives to a dedicated senior center or a youth empowerment hub.
Wildwood will officially close its doors after hosting several community summer camps. The closure anchors a broader district consolidation plan that features the grand opening of the new Amethyst Brook School on South East Street and the ultimate demolition of the neighboring Fort River School.
There was also some anxiety for members about relinquishing the building before the sixth grade takes up residence as the Chestnut Street Academy in the middle school, and having a lease arrangement finalized with the regional school committee.
“I just feel it might be a little risky to not have that space,” said committee member Sarah Marshall.
Chairwoman Deb Leonard, too, said the Amherst schools may need to hold onto Wildwood until that is resolved.
But Herman allayed these concerns. Amethyst Brook is supposed to have its certificate of occupancy by the end of July. And Herman said a delayed start at Amethyst Brook would be more likely than returning to Wildwood, as the district would not be prepared to house 570 students in Wildwood as it currently stands.
Maintenance and upkeep is only projected out to the end of summer, while utilities in this year’s budget are for $156,166, but only $25,900 is included in the fiscal year 2027 budget, mostly to get the building through the summer months.
In a memo from Herman and Executive Director of Finance and Operations Shannon Bernacchia: “Continued use or occupancy of the building would necessitate ongoing operational support, including custodial staffing, building maintenance, groundskeeping, security, inspections, and other facility-related expenses that accompany the operation of a building of this size and age.”
Bernacchia said the thought is to not invest more money than necessary in Wildwood.
“Our anticipation was we would use it in July and August and turn over on Sept. 1,” Bernacchia said. “Two more weeks is not a big deal, but I wouldn’t want to push it too far into the year.”
Leonard said the capital needs of the building are not something the district can take on.
While Marshall made a motion to relinquish the building to the town as of Sept. 15, Hunter asked for an additional two weeks, or until Oct. 1. Herman said the committee could have another meeting in August or an emergency meeting if something goes awry that requires backtracking on the vote.
In the end, the committee opted to take up the topic again at a meeting in June, possibly getting more answers about what requirements the town will have to follow that can be written into the motion.
