Regional School Committee Approves FY27 Budget and School Choice

Report on the Meeting of the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee, March 24, 2026

This meeting was held in the library of the Amherst Regional High School and simulcast over Amherst Media Channel 9, and was recorded.

Present
Regional School Committee: Sarahbess Kenney (Chair, Pelham), Andrew Hart (Amherst), Laura Jane Hunter (Amherst), Anna Heard (Shutesbury), Bridget Hynes (Amherst), Deb Leonard (Amherst), Sarah Marshall (Amherst), William Sherr (Pelham), and Tim Shores (Leverett)

Staff: Shannon Bernacchia (Director of Finance, Amherst Public Schools), Tonya S. McIntyre (Director of Curriculum, Equity and Instructional Leadership)

In their shortest meeting in recent memory (31 minutes), the Regional School Committee approved the budget for Fiscal Year 2027 and the continuation of school choice. According to Shannon Bernacchia in her presentation, nothing had changed from the proposed budget discussed at the hearing on March 10.

Public comment consisted of five emails submitted by parents urging the committee to continue to support school choice so their children can attend elementary and middle school in the region. 

FY27 Budget
After a short presentation of the budget summary by Bernacchia, the committee approved the overall budget, cost centers, and capital costs (see also here) and pushed the budget to the four towns for a vote. 

Budget cost centers in K–12 public education are organizational units—such as a school, department, or program—assigned fiscal responsibility for managing expenditures within an approved budget. Each cost center is used to track spending, ensure accountability, and align financial decisions with district goals.  (See the superintendent’s cost center memo and further explanations ​​here and here.) 

The overall budget,  $38,845,229, was approved by eight votes with Laura Jane Hunter opposing.

The cost centers make up the overall budget and passed by eight votes with Hunter opposing. They include:

Salaries $19,219,660

Contracts: $563,048

Substitutes: $251,010

Regular Education: $118,180

English Learner Education: $16,867

Special Education: $1,618,508

Other Programs (School Choice, Charter and Vocational School Tuition): $3,311,372

Student Services: $79,765, Support Services: $42,901

Program and Staff Development: $114,343

School Administration: $69,231

Central Administration: $453,097

Information Systems: $345,762

Facilities: $374,161

Utilities: $737,237

Transportation $1,700,414

Food Service: $0

Risk and Benefits: $9,628,150

Control Accounts: $78,480

Contingency Funding from E&D (excess and deficiency): $280,000

Capital costs account for facility projects at the schools, like the improvement of the high school domestic hot water heaters and the HVAC, as well as the middle school’s elevator and electrical service upgrade. The total, $497,000, was unanimously approved by the committee. More specific information about the proposed capital projects can be found in the budget summary.

Bernacchia also provided additional information about the Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) employees for the regional school district.

See related: Good News About Regional School Budget at Four Towns Meeting (Amherst Indy)

School Choice 
The committee unanimously supported the continuation of school choice. The superintendent will now work with the principals to decide where and when seats will be available, depending on current and prospective enrollments. Open slots will be announced in the summer. 

Because the district already participates in school choice, it would automatically continue without a vote, Sarahbess Kenney asked to have the discussion to confirm the district’s commitment.

“School choice is such an important part of our district that I think it is important that we continue to have the conversation,” she said.

For next year, Sarah Marshall asked Bernacchia to present  the numbers related to money earned or lost with school choice in the district.