AMHERST — Both political action committees in Amherst are expressing support for the decision made this week by the Elementary School Building Committee to build a new elementary school at the 70 South East St. site of Fort River School.
Statements issued by Amherst Forward and the Progressive Coalition of Amherst are noting appreciation for the committee’s work and its choice for where the 575-student, K-5 school would be constructed. The three-story building would replace both Fort River and Wildwood schools in the fall of 2026.
The site decision means that a package of information can be submitted by the design team DiNisco Design to the Massachusetts School Building Authority, which meets in late August for approval and decisions related to funding.
“Progressive Coalition of Amherst applauds the Elementary School Building Committee for their hard work and for selecting Fort River for the new elementary school site,” reads a statement issued by Pat Ononibaku, who chairs the PCA, on Tuesday. “We think it is the right thing to do, and we thank them for their time and service.”
The coalition organized a petition in support of the Fort River site and applauded those residents who signed it, as well as people who spoke up or wrote letters to the committee and to the media.
“In keeping with inclusive PCA practice of inclusive grassroots advocacy, we look forward to continuing to engage residents regarding the future use of Wildwood School for community programming,” the PCA statement reads.
An email was sent by Amherst Forward to its supporters Tuesday morning, a day after the decision, calling the Fort River site a great location for students to learn and teachers to teach in an environment they deserve.
“We’re thankful for the process that arrived at this conclusion, the dedication and insight of the committee’s volunteers, and, yes, the community’s input and engagement on this issue,” the email states.
Amherst Forward cautioned that the project will depend on successful passage of a Proposition 2½ debt-exclusion vote next spring, for an amount that will be in excess of $100 million. A yet-unknown reimbursement from MSBA will provide a substantial amount of the funding.
Katherine Appy, who chairs the Amherst Forward group, said that with this decision complete, residents will need to support the project when it comes to the vote.
“We are hopeful that the community will unify around this project knowing how important this is to our children and our educators now and in the future,” Appy said.
