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The Elementary School Building Committee (ESBC) held a meeting on January 16, 2026, where it was reported that construction of the Amethyst Brook Elementary School was largely on schedule with only minor elements remaining. The committee is reviewing costs for furniture, fixtures, and equipment, and bidding for playground surfacing has begun. Changes in federal tax credits mean the town is now eligible to apply for both ground source geothermal and solar, which could offset the costs of an additional $450,000 required for changes to the solar canopy foundations; however, there is no guarantee the tax credits will be granted.
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January 2026 Updates on Amethyst Brook Elementary School Construction
The Elementary School Building Committee (ESBC) met via Zoom on January 16, 2026, to provide updates on the progress of the Amethyst Brook Elementary School. Tim Cooper of DiNisco Design, the project’s architects, gave an optimistic report on the construction phase.
Construction Progress
Cooper reported that apart from the doors, the school building should be entirely enclosed by the end of January 2026. He further mentioned that all interior spaces would be defined and ready for the next walkthrough in February 2026. The playground equipment is partially set up, the footings for solar canopies are in place, and all major roof equipment has been installed. As the school’s name has been finalized, DiNisco Design is now set to present sign designs for the committee’s consideration. The selected design must be approved by the Planning Board.
Furniture, Fixtures, and Playground Surface
Ksenyia Slavsky, the Owner’s Project Manager, shared that they had received the pricing for furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FFE) and were currently reviewing it. She reassured the committee that everything looks satisfactory and did not anticipate any issues. Bob Peirent, the Manager of Amherst Capital Project, shed light on the open bidding for the Corkeen playground surfacing contract. He explained that the bid documents necessitate that the installers have proven experience with the cork-based poured-in-place material. The results of the bidding process are expected by January 30, 2026.
Change Order for Additional PV Foundation Work
Peirent brought up a change order for more foundational work needed for the solar canopies planned over the parking lot. He informed the committee that the original designs were found not to meet the code upon review by contractors. This additional construction is estimated to cost $450,000. Despite this increase, the total cost of the project is still expected to remain over a million dollars below the late stage construction cost estimates.
Federal Tax Credits for Geothermal and Solar
Some positive news came from Peirent regarding federal tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act program. The town is now eligible to apply for credits for both the Ground Source geothermal and solar portions of the project. To safeguard against the possibility of withdrawal of federal grants, the town plans to apply for a state program (Mass Green Communities) as a backup. This additional grant for the solar component could potentially offset the costs of the change order. However, Town Manager Paul Bockelman cautioned that there is no certainty of receiving tax credits, given the current federal level changes and Amherst’s status as a sanctuary community.
Approved Invoices
The committee unanimously approved the following invoices:
Anser (Owner’s Project Manager): $58,697.50
DiNisco (Designer): $66,760.00
CTA (General Contractor): $5,048,126.82
Allied Testing: $1,936.00
Upcoming Events and Timeline
New Amherst Town Councilors, School Committee members, and state legislators are invited to join the ESBC for the next site tour scheduled for February 24, 2026. Amid rumors of a delay in the project timeline, committee members Deb Leonard (Amherst School Committee Chair) and Allison Estes (Principal, Wildwood Elementary School) confirmed that the school is on track to open in Fall 2026. A ribbon-cutting event will be planned before school starts. The next ESBC meeting will also be in February 2026.
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