It also offers some alternatives to Souhegan High School in space availability at the middle school. We don't pretend to be education experts, but our strong sense is that 4th graders more appropriately belong in a truly elementary grade configuration, not on a campus including 5-8 adjacent to the high school. As you know, there are very important reasons why elementary grades are usually housed in a rectangular- design school. Recently while attending a meeting at the middle school I became totally lost on two occasions trying to return to the library area. I can't help wondering what that building configuration will feel like to our 4th graders and how staff would do monitoring student whereabouts.
Smaller schools are better for students and staff, they are safer, and more neighborhood friendly.
It is our sense that this is the direction that Amherst citizens would prefer. Construct a new 650 student elementary school on a new site as soon as possible. Return the 5th and 6th grades to the elementary schools. We recognize this may involve some curriculum adjustments. Souhegan space requirements will, of course, need to be studied in detail over the next several years.