Longmeadow
EDUCATION
Northampton passes extra money for schools, though some say not enough
The Northampton City Council voted unanimously to pass a $40 million school budget, even though some councilors said they were not in favor of this decision. “I felt like this entire budget process was very rushed,” Ward 4 Councilor Jeremy Dubs said during the meeting. “I wish that we had had the time for discussion overall... I’m voting ‘yes’ because I think that we should have as much funding as possible for the schools.”
Westfield Technical Academy earns first national gold medal in SkillsUSA
WESTFIELD - Brady LePage of South Hadley, who will be a senior in internet technology at Westfield Technical Academy this fall, was waiting nervously on June 28, the last evening of the national SkillsUSA competition in Atlanta, Georgia for the finalists in “Internet of Things: Smart Home” to be called up to the podium during the awards ceremony.
Superintendent discusses vote of no confidence for South Hadley principal
SOUTH HADLEY — Last month, the South Hadley Education Association submitted a letter to Superintendent Mark McLaughlin and the School Committee to express a vote of no confidence in Mosier Elementary School Principal Cynthia Flynn. At the May 16 School Committee meeting, SHEA President Amy Foley announced the vote...
Western New England University will have the most new students in a century this fall
A Western Mass. university will welcome its biggest group of new students in its 105-year history this fall. Western New England University in Springfield told The Republican there will be 1,028 new students next semester. It’s the most students admitted since the school was founded in 1919 and the admissions department also had the most applications this year, according to Christopher Wystepek, director of undergraduate admissions.
Library Staff Say Smith College is Breaking Labor Law
Recently unionized library workers at Smith College are alleging that the school has broken labor law in recent months as the two sides begin the process of bargaining a first contract. This spring, some 43 employees of the college’s libraries formed the Smith College Libraries Workers Union and voted unanimously...
Northampton school committee crafts response to teachers’ union’s ‘no confidence’ vote in superintendent
Weeks after the Northampton Association of School Employees announced their “no confidence” vote in Superintendent Dr. Portia Bonner, the city’s school committee approved an official statement detailing its support for the head of Northampton Public Schools. It comes as the city deals with a budget situation that...
Regional awardee at middle school credits positive attitude
WEST SPRINGFIELD — Emma Chapman was in the car with her mother on the way to being dropped off at West Springfield Middle School in June when mom told Emma the principal wanted to see the eighth grader that morning. “I got all nervous because I’ve never been sent...
Chicopee School Committee begins work on evaluating superintendent
CHICOPEE — During the School Committee meeting on June 26, the group met the incoming Chicopee Education Association president, as well as discussed a superintendent evaluation proposal for the previous school year. CEA member and Physics Teacher Ben Eisen used the public comment portion of the meeting to introduce...
Agawam schools using $22K grant to make lunchtime more efficient
AGAWAM — Elizabeth Moulton, the school district’s food services director, gave her annual report to the School Committee at its final meeting of the 2023-24 school year, providing the committee with an update on what’s happened in the schools during the past year. Moulton told the committee...
STGRSD starting Acceptance and Compassion panel
SOUTHWICK — While administrators were responding to alleged incidents of racism at Southwick Regional School in February, School Committee Chair Robert Stevenson said he wanted to create a committee of community members to strengthen bonds among stakeholders in the district. The time has come, Stevenson said on June 25.
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