AMHERST — Citing the needs of the youngest public school students in Amherst, Town Council this week agreed to boost the proposed fiscal year 2027 elementary school budget by $120,000, ensuring the restoration of math and reading interventionists.

In a lengthy discussion at Monday’s meeting, in which Town Manager Paul Bockelman’s $107.1 million spending plan was largely approved as presented, councilors by a 10-3 vote agreed to add money to the $29.48 million elementary school budget he recommended, which fell about $500,000 short of the request from the Amherst School Committee.

The extra $120,000 will come from an identical cut in funding for the town’s capital improvement program, reducing the appropriation for equipment, facilities and buildings to $4.47 million.

District 2 Councilor Amber Cano-Martin said children’s needs should be a priority for the Town Council.

“These are our very youngest children, our elementary school children,” Cano-Martin said. “If we don’t provide them the supports they need right now, it’s going to catch up with us later.”

Also supporting the additional money for the elementary schools, which had been recommended by the Finance Committee, were At Large Councilors Ellisha Walker and Andy Churchill, District 5 Councilors Sam MacLeod and Ana Devlin Gauthier, District 4 Councilors Jennifer Taub and Pam Rooney, District 3 Councilor Hala Heather Lord and District 1 Councilors Cahy Schoen and Jill Brevik. Those opposed to the adjustment were Council President Mandi Jo Hanneke, District 3 Councilor George Ryan and District 2 Councilor Lynn Griesemer.

Brevik attempted to double the increase to $250,000, noting that this would meet the School Committee halfway to its budget. That amendment was defeated, with just three other councilors supporting that amount.

Brevik explained her rationale, noting significant changes are coming this fall when the new 565-student, K-5 Amethyst Brook School opens, and sixth graders begin attending the Chestnut Street Academy. At the same time, she said, there will be fewer specialists teaching art, music, physical education and library science, as well as a reduction in interventionists.

“I think taken all together, the interventioists and specialists and allowing for staffing flexibility, to ensure all students can participate, is what will reduce future special education referrals and sustain student success in the upper grades,” Brevik said. “(This is) forward thinking about what will save us money down the road.”

The town manager’s proposal for the elementary schools was about $339,000 above the 3.85% guidance set by the Town Council and also exceeded the budget brought forward by Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman.

Understanding this, Hanneke said the Town Council shouldn’t ignore the financial guidelines it set and also shouldn’t decrease the capital budget.

“We constantly hear about our infrastructure needs and deferred maintenance as much, if not more, than we hear about school funding concerns,” Hanneke said.

It remains uncertain exactly what will be reduced in capital spending.

Finance Director Sean Mangano said no decisions have been made, and that Bockelman would talk to department heads about projects that could be delayed or altered.

Ryan joined Hanneke with concerns about amending the school budget, observing that the the superintendent indicated the budget she developed was fine.

“Did I misunderstand, did the school superintendent bring a budget that was actually within the guidelines,” Ryan said. “I’m struggling with the thought that somehow the school superintendent sees it one way, and the school committee sees it another.”

While there had been expected to be savings through the consolidation of three elementary schools to two, and the closing of both Fort River and Wildwood schools, Churchill said this may not happen. Part of the issue is that Amherst sixth graders will be in the middle school, but not with peers from Pelham, Shutesbury and Leverett because those towns weren’t favorable to a grades 6-8 regional model.

“I think the $120,000 compromise is a compromise,” Churchill said. He added that he appreciates the focus on math and reading interventionists as a way to reduce future special education costs.

Walker said she would have supported even more money going to the schools. “We cannot continue to be so rigid around school funding simply because of our budget constraints,” Walker said.

Deb Leonard, who chairs the Amherst School Committee, said educators made it clear that not getting the full budget request will fundamentally change the culture of the schools, especially since it means specials teachers are being eliminated.

The full budget proposal from Bockelman was approved in a 12-1 vote, with only Hanneke voting against, though Griesemer explained her affirmative vote.

“I will be voting yes because to vote yes means I approve of the manager’s budget, even with this slight change,” Griesemer said.

There was little disagreement about the rest of the budget, which includes money for municipal operations, the regional schools and the Jones Library.

The budget will mean bringing on two new firefighter-EMTs and two new water and wastewater treatment plant operators.