Amherst School Committee Considers Proposal to Keep Sixth Grade in the Elementary Schools
Meeting of the Amherst School Committee, December 17, 2025
This meeting was held in the Amherst Pelham Regional High School Library and simulcast on Amherst Media. It was recorded.
Present:
Jennifer Shiao (Chair), Sarah Marshall, Deb Leonard, and Bridget Hynes. Absent: Irv Rhodes
Staff: E. Xiomara Herman (Dr. Xi, Superintendent) and administrative staff.
In November, Deb Leonard asked the Amherst School Committee (ASC) to reconsider the decision to have a sixth-grade academy at the middle school. Leonard submitted a proposal that would abandon that plan and instead offered two options: one that would locate the Caminantes dual language program and the sixth grade academy at Crocker Farm Elementary School and another that would have K-6 instruction at both Crocker Farm and the town’s new elementary school (newly named Amethyst Brook Elementary School). That option would place the Caminantes dual language program at the new school along with sixth grade instruction for programs assisting students with special needs, the ILC (Inclusive Learning Community, currently at Wildwood elementary) and the Building Blocks program (currently at Fort River Elementary). Discussion of the proposal was listed as the final item on the agenda for this meeting.
ASC Chair Jennifer Shiao noted that the significant impacts on Caminantes and Crocker Farm were not mentioned in the agenda for the meeting, so it would be a violation of open meeting law if discussed. She quoted the Open Meeting Law FAQ site, “The Attorney General strongly encourages public bodies to postpone discussion and action on topics that were not listed in the meeting notice.” It was agreed that the committee could discuss alternative spaces for the sixth grade but not the specific plan proposed by Leonard.
Bridget Hynes reviewed the history of the sixth grade moving to the middle school. She said a past school committee decided “it was a great idea to build the new school for K through 5 and expected that the sixth graders could be integrated into the middle school. And then they couldn’t be. So I’ve been wanting to see this on the agenda since last spring. It definitely does feel late in the game now, but I think it’s still important to have a little bit of public conversation, especially when we’re looking at a $2 million deficit.”
Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman (Dr. Xi) noted that she was not consulted about finding a different location for the sixth grade prior to the November school committee meeting. Her leadership team has developed a plan for what needs to be done to move the sixth grade to the middle school and earlier in the meeting they offered substantial arguments for why changing the plan this late in the game was not feasible.
In defending her desire to keep the sixth grade with K through 5, Leonard cited new estimates by consultant Tim Ammons that K-6 enrollments are projected to be flat over the next five years at around 956. The 90% capacity for Crocker Farm (375) and the new Amethyst Brook Elementary School (575) is 950, so Leonard felt that eliminating the sixth grade academy at the middle school would save money. “Every dollar that we don’t have to spend for leasing, for busing, or for paying people in other districts, which could be the region, for services—every dollar we can keep in district has the potential of benefitting our students and providing a higher quality educational experience,” she said. “I don’t think it’s ever too late to make a decision that might save the district from reducing staff.” Her arguments were supported by Hynes.
Shiao, however, disagreed. She felt it was too late to change plans. “There are so many pieces that have already been put into place and that are continuing to be put into place,” she stated, asking Leonard,” Can you tell me what problem or problems you’re trying to solve?”
Sarah Marshall replied, “I do know that Deb [Leonard] and Bridget [Hynes] have the best interests of the students and the district at heart, but I feel that the history of how we got here is irrelevant—we are where we are, and we should focus on what is the best path forward.” She felt it was too early to be able to determine if money could be saved by not moving the sixth grade, because budget discussions are just beginning, and thought that the nearly finished educational plan means that the same education will be provided in any location, with actually some benefits of the sixth-grade academy allowing students to take advantage of some of the middle school resources. She also noted that enrollments can change quickly, and there needs to be room for expansion and avoiding overcrowding.
Dr. Xi stressed the lack of precision of predicting enrollments. “We could project 20 students next year and end up with 55,” she said, noting that the schools have to provide for the needs of every student. Also, she maintained that operating two school buildings and paying for a lease for space at the middle school will be less expensive than operating the three existing buildings.
Leonard and Hynes continued to argue for the potential advantages of keeping two schools, instead of the three (that would result from adding a sixth-grade academy), both in terms of saving money and in keeping the sixth graders integrated with the elementary schools.
No vote was taken on the issue at this meeting. Rather, it will be added to the January 20 Amherst School Committee meeting, when Shiao and Irv Rhodes will no longer be members of the committee. New members Alan Hart and Laura Hunter will take their place in January.