Friends of Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education,
We ae excited to share this absolutely phenomenal news from Superintendent Eric Duda, and our colleagues at Pathfinder Tech!! What an enormous step forward for Pathfinder and the students across the district to access high quality Chapter 74 vocational technical education!! It is also wonderful for the Belchertown community and its taxpayers.
Superintendent Duda stated “Repurposing a building that was scheduled to close into a vibrant hub for Career Technical Education will create more than 150 new CTE seats for students in Pathfinder Tech’s nine member towns and for students beyond the district’s borders through non-resident acceptances."
Congratulations to Superintendent Duda and all involved in the development of this fantastic opportunity!!
David
Pathfinder Tech and Town of Belchertown Finalize 25 Year Lease Agreement for Cold Spring School, Paving the Way for Major CTE Expansion
November 19, 2025
Pictured from left to right: Brian Cameron (Superintendent, Belchertown Public Schools), Steve Williams (Town Manager, Belchertown), Lesa Lessard Pearson (Chair of Select Board, Belchertown), Julie Quink (Chair of School Committee, Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School), Eric Duda (Superintendent, Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School).
Belchertown, MA – A significant milestone for regional Career Technical Education (CTE) was reached today at Cold Spring School, marking the culmination of months of collaborative planning. Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School is proud to announce the official signing of a 25-year lease agreement with the Town of Belchertown for the use of the Cold Spring Elementary School building.
As part of the agreement, Pathfinder Tech presented the Town of Belchertown with a $100,000 upfront lease payment. The district anticipates a 70 percent reimbursement of this cost through a competitive CTE expansion grant supported by the Healey-Driscoll Administration.
“This lease signing represents far more than a contractual agreement; it is a monumental step forward for students across our region,” said the Superintendent of Pathfinder Tech. “Repurposing a building that was scheduled to close into a vibrant hub for Career Technical Education will create more than 150 new CTE seats for students in Pathfinder Tech’s nine member towns and for students beyond the district’s borders through non-resident acceptances."
The superintendent emphasized that this partnership showcases what is possible when school districts and municipalities work together with a shared vision. “None of this would have been possible without the Pathfinder Tech School Committee, whose leadership and foresight guided this entire process,” he said. He also praised Belchertown Superintendent Brian Cameron for his student-centered approach, as well as the Belchertown Select Board and Town Manager for their early support, forward thinking leadership, and exceptional collaboration.
“As Superintendent of Pathfinder Tech, I want to assure the Belchertown community that Cold Spring School will remain open, improved, and valued long into the future,” he continued. “We will protect this taxpayer investment, enhance it, and grow it into a facility that the entire region can be proud of.”
The CTE expansion supported by this lease represents a 25 percent increase in Pathfinder Tech’s student enrollment capacity over the next three years. New and expanded programs will strengthen workforce pathways and increase access to high quality technical education for students across Western Massachusetts.
“This is truly a win-win partnership,” the superintendent said. “Decades from now, we will look back on this moment as a turning point that opened doors for students and created new opportunities that will shape the future of our communities.”
Chapter 74 Vocational Technical & Agricultural Education
LEARNING THAT WORKS FOR MASSACHUSETTS
David J. Ferreira
MAVA Communications Coordinator
DavidFerreira