Russell School

Russell School, a former educational institution in Hadley, Massachusetts, has been vacant since 2015, a town decision due to the building’s deteriorating condition. A feasibility study in 2019 estimated that it would cost in the range of $19-22 million to fully rehabilitate the historic building. The Select Board formed the Russell School Committee to explore opportunities for the building and identify funding sources. After polling the local community and finding that stabilizing Russell School is important to the majority of residents, the committee moved forward to develop a plan for stabilization. This would include slate roof replacement, repointing the brick, stable grades, and granite repair. With stabilization as the goal, the committee applied for a $1.2 million Community Preservation Act grant, but the Select Board replaced the request with an ask for $40k to complete another feasibility study. In July 2023, the Select Board decided to disband the Russell School Committee until the latest feasibility study is complete, which the Select Board will manage themselves. At their meeting on December 6, 2023, they awarded the feasibility study contract to AHF Boston.