Amherst Montessori School
Amherst, MA
Services Provided:
Organizational Capacities & Assessment Study
Capital Project & Campaign Coordination
Program Development
Administrative and Program Support
Head of School Mentoring
Founded in 1972, Amherst Montessori School is a toddler through grade 6 independent school serving the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts. As a consequence of its success, AMS found itself a campus and a community divided, housed in separate locations as owners of a full-to-the-brim 3,000sf schoolhouse and renters of multiple units in a nearby commercial center.
AMS retained KSC to resolve the growing tension between increasing demand for its services and its facilities / financial limitations. The resulting development of 12,800sf of energy efficient, user-friendly classroom, administrative, and community spaces, including expanded program offerings, has set the school on a unified course toward growth and sustainability.
Project Summary
Type: Capital Project coordination, including Organizational & Capacity Assessment, Program Development; Administrative and Program Support, Project Design & Construction Oversight
Hard & Soft costs: $2.6 million
Outcome: AMS moved into its new home February 2013 on time, on budget
Campaign/Financing Summary
Type: Capital Campaign / Loan Coordination
Capital Campaign: In its first Capital Campaign, AMS successfully raised $500,000 from 130 individual donations.
Financing: $2.0 million construction loan and $1.6 million permanent loan secured.
Amherst Montessori School
Website: www.amherstmontessori.org
“KSC was instrumental in the creation and success of AMS’s Capital Campaign and our 13,000sf, $2.6 million new facilities project. They gave us THE tools to bring the school’s 20 year dream to fruition.”
— Tamara Sheesley-Balis,
Former Head of School
