Wilkins School Project

What This Page Is For

This page collects background information about the Wilkins School Project so that Amherst residents
can understand what is being discussed, why it matters, and where to find more detailed materials.

The goal is to put key context, documents, and plain-language explanations in one place and to point
you to official sources for meetings and decisions.

For historical information provided by the SAU please visit https://wilkins-school-project.sau39.org/

What Is the Wilkins School Project?

The Wilkins School Project is an elementary school facilities effort focused on the Wilkins building in
Amherst. Over the past several years, the community has been asked to consider different proposals to
address long-term needs at Wilkins. Those efforts have not yet resulted in a project that voters have
approved, but the underlying questions have not gone away.

In broad terms, the project looks at:

• Building condition – the state of major systems, accessibility, site conditions, and deferred maintenance.
• Capacity – how many students Wilkins can appropriately serve, given class size guidelines and program needs.
• Educational program needs – how well the existing spaces support today’s instructional practices and student services.
• Function and safety – how students and staff move through the building and site, and how well it supports safe, everyday operations.

Why Is This Being Discussed Now?

Wilkins has been the subject of multiple studies and conversations over time. Capital needs assessments,
enrollment and capacity analyses, and programmatic reviews have all pointed to ongoing questions about:

• How long existing systems and spaces can reasonably serve the community without major investment.
• Whether the current layout and square footage are sufficient for modern elementary programs and support services.
• How to balance the cost of a significant project with other district and town priorities.

At the same time, Amherst has experienced changes in enrollment patterns and a challenging fiscal and
political environment for large school projects. Those realities have shaped both the proposals that
have been brought forward and the community response to them.

What Has Been Studied So Far?

Several types of work have informed the Wilkins conversation, including:

• Capital needs assessments – identifying building systems, site conditions, and components that need repair, replacement, or upgrade over a multi-year period.
• Capacity and utilization work – looking at how many students the building can serve, how classrooms and support spaces are used, and where there are bottlenecks or shortfalls.
• Programmatic and educational analyses – examining how well existing spaces align with current expectations for elementary teaching and learning.
• Conceptual planning – exploring potential configurations or scenarios that could address needs at Wilkins and across the district.

The Wilkins Project Documents & Reports page links directly to
many of these underlying materials for anyone who wants to read them in full.

What Kinds of Options Are on the Table?

Different reports and discussions have considered a range of possible approaches. In general, options for
a school like Wilkins tend to fall into a few broad categories:

• Renovate and improve the existing building – upgrading systems, reconfiguring some spaces, and addressing health, safety, and accessibility issues.
• Renovate plus addition – expanding the building to add needed classrooms or specialized spaces while also addressing existing deficiencies.
• More extensive reconstruction or replacement – a larger-scale project that might involve significant new construction and rethinking of how the site is used.

Within those broad categories, there are many variations, each with different implications for cost,
educational benefit, phasing, and disruption to students. The specifics change from proposal to proposal;
this site focuses on helping residents understand the trade-offs and context behind whatever
current option is under discussion.

Where Things Stand Right Now

The Wilkins School Project has been brought to voters more than once and has not yet received the level
of support needed to move forward. That reality has raised several questions for the community:

• Are the needs being clearly and accurately communicated?
• Are the options being considered broad enough and well enough understood?
• How do Wilkins decisions fit into a larger, long-term plan for all Amherst schools?

This site does not speak for any board, committee, or public body. Its purpose is to organize information
and provide context so residents can evaluate proposals for themselves. Official actions, such as whether
to place a particular project on a warrant or how to phase work, are made by the appropriate boards and by
voters at public meetings and elections.

For the most current information about official decisions, please refer to:

• The SAU 39 and Amherst School Board websites
• Official meeting agendas and minutes
• Town and school district warrant and voting materials

How This Site Organizes Wilkins Information

To make it easier to follow the Wilkins conversation, related information is grouped into a few sections:

• Documents & Reports
  Links to underlying studies, assessments, and presentations related to Wilkins and broader school facilities work.
• Plain-Language Explainers
  Articles that unpack topics such as why Wilkins needs attention, what “capacity” really means, how costs are structured,
  and how state standards fit into the picture.
• Meetings & Decisions
  Information about when Wilkins is on an agenda, with links out to official agendas, minutes, and any available materials.

Important Reminder

This page is intended as a helpful summary and collection of resources. It is not an official statement of
the Town of Amherst, SAU 39, or any board or committee. When in doubt, please rely on official sources for
the latest and most authoritative information.