Letter: Strong Fiscal Work Informs Long-term Plans for Pelham Elementary School

The following is an open letter to the residents of Pelham.

As we approach Town Meeting on Saturday, May 9, I want to highlight the strong fiscal work done by both the Pelham School Committee and the Pelham Select Board. Together, they have produced a responsible FY27 Pelham Elementary budget with only a 1.25% increase ($22,551) and established the Pelham Elementary School Futures Committee to guide long‑term planning for grades K–6.

Pelham Elementary School Budget
Despite rising educational costs statewide and regionally, Pelham Elementary continues to deliver high‑quality education while keeping annual increases low. For FY27, the school maintains its current structure, staffing, and curriculum with a modest 1.25% increase, demonstrating fiscal responsibility and educational stability.

Key points:

• Pelham Elementary School will remain open for the 2026–2027 school year and the foreseeable future while the Pelham Elementary School Futures Committee completes its analysis of long-term educational options.
• School Choice remains open, supporting both enrollment and revenue 
• No programmatic changes are planned for 2026–2027, including no combined classrooms and no transition of 6th graders to the middle school.
• Major cost drivers include:
  • Charter tuition increase: +$70,922 (split between Town and School)
  • Insurance/healthcare: +8.5% ($39,435)
  • Salaries: +4.95% ($90,653)

• To offset these increases, the Pelham School Committee proposes using $632,445 in School Choice funds

School Choice:  A Critical Revenue Source
First and foremost, School Choice families and students strengthen our schools and broaden our classrooms. They are made up of families who are our nearby neighbors of Amherst, Hadley, Franklin Country, and more. 

School Choice revenue has become an important component of Pelham Elementary School’s financial sustainability.

Currently, Pelham Elementary serves 

• 67 School Choice students
• 61 Pelham resident students

In addition, there are currently 32 vacant seats across grades K–6.

While the state’s $5,000 per‑pupil rate needs legislative updating, School Choice has been essential to Pelham’s stability — generating ~$500,000 annually, lowering Pelham’s cost per student, and keeping class sizes small. Filling vacant seats would bring in additional revenue during the Futures Committee’s review period.

Pelham Elementary School Futures Committee
The Pelham Elementary School Futures Committee was established by the Pelham Select Board on February 19, 2026. The committee has been tasked with researching realistic and sustainable options for educating Pelham students in grades K–6 before any decisions regarding school closure are made.

The committee is currently studying five possible scenarios:

1. Continue operating Pelham Elementary School for grades K–6

2. Continue operating the school for grades K–5 only

3. Establish a regional elementary school system with Amherst

4. Close Pelham Elementary School and tuition students into neighboring districts

5. Explore additional options identified by the committee

• Adding pre-K
• Changing of Union to Union 28
• Regionalization with smaller towns (Shutesbury, Leverett, etc.)
• Finding other ways monetize the school building i.e. renting for events

The committee’s work includes developing 10-year cost projections for each option. An interim report is due by September 30, 2026, with a final report due by December 2026.

This is a significant undertaking, and broader community involvement — especially in exploring “other options,” identifying grants, and advocating for rural‑school legislation — will strengthen this work.

Amherst Regional Assessment: Largest Cost Increase
I also encourage residents to review the 2026 Pelham Annual Town Meeting Warrant regarding regional school costs.

Pelham’s FY27 Amherst Regional assessment increased by $101,821, or 7.75%, even after reductions to the region’s originally proposed budget. This follows prior annual increases of:

* 4% in FY24

* 6% in FY25

* 23% in FY26

The Town Meeting Warrant also notes that Pelham’s share of the regional capital budget is projected to cost $407,823 through 2032, with annual costs expected to increase substantially after that period.

When comparing educational spending increases for FY27:

* Pelham Elementary increased by 1.25% ($22,551)

* Amherst Regional increased by 7.75% ($101,821)

This comparison is important as residents evaluate both current educational costs and long-term planning options.

In Summary
Pelham Elementary is open, stable, and fiscally responsible. School Choice continues to support both our classrooms and our town. As the Futures Committee studies long‑term options, I encourage residents to stay informed and engaged in evaluating both Pelham Elementary and regional education costs.

Julio Mallonga

Julio Mallonga