School Committee backs $5.9M heat pump plan

School Committee · Meeting of August 31, 2026

Hadley School Committee recommended a $5.9 million air source heat pump system for Hopkins Academy over costlier geothermal and fossil-fuel alternatives. Superintendent of Schools Anne McKenzie and energy consultant TRAIN compared three HVAC options, with members voting unanimously to pair the heat pumps with a separate $1.4 million solar proposal carrying a 30 percent federal tax credit that expires if installation isn't complete by December 31, 2027. Member Tara Brugger pressed for cost details on deferred locker-room and kitchen heating work, while a TRAIN representative said "those spaces I think will be fine remaining on steam in the short term." The committee also approved its fiscal year 2027 capital plan, carrying a separate $2.6 million town capital request, and adopted a new Protect Act policy on immigration enforcement in schools ahead of a September 1 state deadline.

The heat pump and solar recommendation heads to a joint Select Board and Finance Committee meeting September 16.

In the full story:

• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 2,476 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of August 31, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.