Don, a member of the Town of Hampden Select Board, said the board met March 19 with Wilbraham officials and that the meeting produced "a rather frank and honest discussion" about possible amendments to the regional school agreement.

The issue, Don said, centers on how to give the Wilbraham School Committee flexibility to manage overcrowding and building use while deciding who pays for capital repairs. "One of the main sticking points is, will Hampden pay a share of the part for the children in the Wilbraham Middle School?" Don said. He also said he was "disappointed to see that the Wilbraham capital planning committee did not approve fixing the ventilation system in the school," an element cited in a 2015 feasibility study.

Why this matters: Hampden officials expressed concern that known building problems have gone unaddressed for years and that asking Hampden taxpayers to fund capital repairs for a building the town does not own would be a poor fiscal decision. Select Board members said they want a regional agreement that gives the school committee flexibility while protecting Hampden’s fiscal interests.

Board members discussed several options that surfaced in earlier planning, including repurposing Thornton Burgess (referred to in discussion as a district-wide grades 5–6 facility) and using the middle school as grades 7–8. Craig, a Select Board member, said that prior proposals to reassign grades and amend the regional agreement were considered but “went nowhere,” leaving the towns where they are now.

Speakers noted enrollment and facility figures cited in the meeting: speakers said the middle school currently houses 614 students and that the building was designed for roughly 420 students, language spoken aloud in the record. Board members urged a practical near-term plan because a new middle school, if pursued, would take many years to plan and construct.

The board did not take a formal vote on funding or a specific amendment. Members agreed to continue the dialogue with Wilbraham and scheduled a follow-up meeting for April 2. Several board members said they want a comprehensive plan that includes a commitment to fix urgent building deficiencies and a discussion of how any capital contributions would be prorated or recouped.

Ending: The Select Board will meet Wilbraham officials again April 2 to continue work on amending the regional agreement; no formal funding commitments were made at the March 24 meeting.