Project Update

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• What are the educational benefits for our children?

  • Up-to-date technology for 21st-century learning.

  • Abundant natural light in classrooms and learning spaces. Research shows that daylight can increase test scores by 20 percent.

  • Flexible spaces for individual learning and group learning to support collaboration and problem-solving.

  • Design and classroom layout will provide enhanced support for the dual language program.

  • Potential for cross-age learning with two grade levels per floor.

  • Dedicated special education, English language learner, and academic classrooms where students can receive focused attention/instruction within close proximity to their grade-level peers.

  • Outdoor learning and play spaces, including trail systems and rain gardens to explore during recess

  • Learning lab about the environmental 

  • Entrances and exits will be secure (see "Safety" paragraph below)

  • Fully accessible.  The site and building will meet ADA codes, including bathrooms and interior spaces, entrances, walkways, and parking drop-off areas. The existing schools are not fully compliant.

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• Amherst had a choice of either Wildwood or Fort River as the location for the school project. Why did the Committee select Fort River?

  • Amherst does not have a “swing” space that would allow students to learn off-site during construction. This means existing schools need to stay open while the new school is built.

  • The size of the Fort River site (31 acres with 20 usable), with two entrances and exits, makes it possible to build a new school while keeping the existing school on the site open. The new school will be 100 feet away from the current building (see the illustration). The site will enable the new school to open in 2026.

  • Because of the smaller site, building at Wildwood was projected to have lasted at least a year longer to provide play areas.

  • The proximity of construction to the current Wildwood school would have disrupted teaching and there would have been limited areas for outdoor play during many phases of construction. (Fewer than 11 of Wildwood’s 14 acres are useable due to slopes.)

  • With only one entrance at Wildwood, construction vehicles would have vied with buses and cars for safe entrance and exit.  

  • The Fort River site also provides more space for the safe circulation of cars and buses on site and staff and visitor parking.

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• Why did the Committee decide to build a new school rather than renovate/expand one of the existing schools?

  • Renovation/expansion was considered as an option but not selected for four reasons: 1) It was not significantly less expensive or might have even ended up having a higher cost once the relocation of students was considered; 2) it was very difficult to meet the energy and classroom layout goals; 3) it would have a significant impact on students in the occupied building during renovation; and 4) it would have taken two or more years to complete because of the need to phase construction.

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• What about the water table at the Fort River site? How does the project address this concern?

  • The project site budget includes a substantial investment in raising the ground level and improving soil and drainage.

  • The foundation of the building will be raised 2 feet above the existing ground level, with gravel, new soil, and subsurface engineered drainage to protect the building and fields. Parking areas and playing fields raised by 1 foot with underdrain systems. 

  • The site plan includes rain gardens and other means for protecting the area while providing opportunities for students to learn about the natural environment.

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• The building looks beautiful but is it too “fancy”? How has the Committee controlled costs?

  • The three-story design of the building and floor layout is efficient and cost-effective. The footprint is about half of the current Fort River building, reducing foundation costs and conserving energy

  • Materials were selected for durability, quality and also cost. The brick exterior will be long-lasting with low maintenance.

  • Materials inside the building similarly were selected with priority given to durability and cost, without sacrificing educational, acoustical, and thermal comfort goals

  • Due to the rapid inflation in the cost of materials, the Committee and Design team reduced total costs by over $5 million in January 2023 by switching to less expensive materials and design changes that did not undermine the durability, quality or function. The Committee also reduced the costs of some amenities.

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• What about safety? From intruders or in the event of need to exit the building rapidly?

  • There is a secure controlled entrance in the front of the building, all visitors will need to be signed in.

  • The classroom corridors can be closed off from the community spaces.

  • All classroom doors can be locked from the inside by teachers.

    • Most classroom doors will swing into the classroom.

    • All classroom doors will feature deadbolt locks that will secure classroom doors from the inside.

  • Side doors’ glass will be protected from attempts at forced entry.

    • Security film on glazing is included at all entrances. The glass is not ballistic rated.  However, the specified film will keep broken glass in place in door or window frames as a deterrent to forced entry.  During detailed design there will be further discussion with district administration and Amherst public safety agencies to ensure the project provides the appropriate level of security.

  • Staircases and elevators are located to provide safe exits.​

  • Provisions for emergency evacuations when elevators cannot be used: 

    • The project includes emergency evacuation chairs to allow the mobility-impaired to evacuate the upper floors of the building in the event of an emergency. An emergency telephone will be provided adjacent to the elevator controls on the upper floors of the building that will allow a building occupant to call for assistance if needed.

  • Amherst first responders will be able to access the site and entry/exit.

  • The School will have security cameras on the outside perimeter and inside.

    • The project includes security camera coverage of the entire exterior of the building and its immediate surroundings, including all entrances. Cameras are in interior spaces that will be used by the general public, including the cafeteria, gymnasium, as well as stairwells. District policy will determine how the security system is monitored. During detailed design there will be further discussion with district administration and Amherst public safety agencies to ensure the project provides the appropriate level of security.

  • Crime Prevention and Emergencies:

    • The design team’s Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) consultant reviewed the proposed project with the first and emergency responders for the Town of Amherst. The review of the site and floor plans evaluated safety and security measures in and around the site and school, and touched on building elements and procedures. The Amherst Police Department, Fire Department, and the CRESS Department (Community Responders for Equity, Safety & Service), along with an external School Safety expert were consulted during the design phase. Their input has been incorporated into the proposed safety and security features of the project

  • Further safety discussions will occur at the next phase of the project. 

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• Will there be room to expand if enrollment grows?

  • Yes. The building classroom spaces provide room for enrollment to grow, including somewhat higher student-to-staff ratios

  • The layout allows flexibility to use space interchangeably.

  • NOTE: Childbearing trends locally, regionally and throughout the state, indicate a low risk of a surge in the number of children.

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• How will the site plan accommodate car, bus, bike, pedestrians?

  • The proposed site plan has buses and cars entering and exiting separately.

  • The car entry/exit will be moved south of its current location to allow queuing and more space to merge into traffic when heading north

  • There will be safe pedestrian and bike routes on site, with bike racks.

  • The parking lot and school are designed to be accessible, with designated space for van and handicap parking

  • The bus loop provides on-site space to accommodate buses/vans

  • The Town is exploring grant funding and ways to improve the two intersections near the Fort River site. This is needed for the new housing developments as well as the school.

  • Safety:  Secure entrance, exits, and classrooms. All visitors will register and come through the front vestibule. The design enables the school to prevent access to classroom areas if needed.

 

• How will the proposed building project benefit the broader Amherst community?

  • After hours: In addition to providing an excellent learning center for elementary-age children, the building will include spaces that are designed for use by the community when school is not in session.  These include: a “cafetorium” with stage performance space, a library, a gym and music/activity rooms.

  • Secure access: The proposed floor layout makes it possible to have secure access to community spaces without accessing classrooms

  • The project will provide new playgrounds, and nature paths as well as rehabilitated community fields for sports and recreation, and links to trail systems. These fields are actively used by multiple athletic teams.

  • Resilience hub. A back-up generator will support the school in the event of a power outage.
     

• Will the consolidated school save operating costs?

  • Yes. Operating and maintaining three schools is more expensive than two schools due to administrative and other overhead costs.   As detailed in the Preferred Schematic Report to MSBA (click here for Section 4 MSBA budget statement) the school department estimated up to $1 million in operational savings from lower utility costs, reduced administrative costs, and overhead costs.

  • The net-zero design of the proposed new school will save at least $250,000 per year in utility costs compared to the current schools’ fuel and electric costs due to the use of renewable energy to offset electricity costs. (see "Sustainability" section below)

  • However, more sophisticated energy systems may require extra training of facility and maintenance staff.

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• Have all the site and building design decisions been made? Will there still be opportunities for community input?

  • There will be ample opportunity for continued community input. The decisions made to date include the size, location and major building systems.  Design details such as colors, furnishings, outdoor spaces, play surfaces, play equipment and more will occur after funding is secured to move forward.

  • The design team involved teachers and staff in the basic layout of classroom spaces. The next phase will decide on details, including the possible location of murals/art in hallway spaces.

  • The Building Committee anticipates working with multiple subcommittees, including sustainability and outdoor spaces sub-committees.

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