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Hampden, Wilbraham officials pause regional agreement talks over middle-school capital-costs; meeting to be rescheduled
Summary
Select Board members discussed outstanding capital-cost sharing if Wilbraham Middle School becomes regional, canceled a planned joint meeting after Wilbraham requested legal counsel and agreed to reconvene with administrators to work toward an equitable split.
Select Board members in the Town of Hampden discussed outstanding provisions of the Hampden–Wilbraham Regional School District agreement on March 10, focusing on how to share capital costs if the Wilbraham Middle School becomes a regional school.
The towns' planning committee reported most terms in the regional agreement are settled, but the parties have not agreed on how to divide capital costs for improvements that a consolidated middle school would require. The committee noted a feasibility study found either building would need upgrades if student populations consolidated.
The Select Board had planned a joint meeting with Wilbraham representatives to negotiate a fair capital-cost split. Wilbraham asked that its legal counsel attend; Hampden members said they needed to check with their board and canceled the meeting rather than proceed with only one town’s counsel present. Select Board member Don said "I don't think we need legal counsel" and urged a collegial meeting between the six municipal officials and school administrators.
Board members discussed timing and agreed to try to reschedule the meeting between the towns' select boards and administrators; one participant suggested March 20 as a possible date. Participants reiterated the discussion is about capital-cost allocation only and not final contract language, which would be negotiated later if the parties reach agreement.
The board noted relative student shares matter in the split: one speaker observed Hampden accounts for roughly 18% of the Wilbraham Middle School population, a figure referenced during the capital-allocation discussion. Members said the meeting should remain collaborative rather than adversarial, and that lawyers would not be needed unless specific contract verbiage was prepared for review.
Next steps are administrative: Hampden will try to set a new joint meeting with Wilbraham and their respective school administrators and determine whether counsel should attend once language is drafted. No formal vote or board action was taken at the Select Board meeting on March 10.
