[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6393807,"mediaKeyId","2105322-dc1478a2c3ad2c19b1462c3fb451e9c9","parentId",2105322,"title","Superintendent begins budget work; finance staff say $40,000 Bridge Street appropriation will be folded into recurring base","audioSeconds",209,"startMs",9894000,"endMs",10103000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2105322-dc1478a2c3ad2c19b1462c3fb451e9c9&start=9894&end=10103","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2105322-dc1478a2c3ad2c19b1462c3fb451e9c9/thumbnail_9894000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6393807/Northampton-Public-Schools/School-Boards/Massachusetts/Superintendent-begins-budget-work-finance-staff-say-40000-Bridge-Street-appropriation-will-be-folded-into-recurring-base","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393807-7171ac42b035ce16ff1ae00e87d4d4d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437908&Signature=JRZ1~6nLpulZ~DtqMRKZrwhG~wGbpcpdvrKLFbTXXM69kuusOsh3OS5G2MXlGjqnRDBGF~tVgouR-ZmZ3Nj1Dm~GFsw6GNyeDcP~DX3BjXFylk67IBc2wfZpCY2biSXQc2AV14tV5EKdbqIkD6kep-giQhQNUTWqMTs93zpjK~DhpkbFI1QHmEyexKUnE68jxUlmuW8rZBpc1Zk1SAjZgPbpmLHh8hceFzk8rQushhZVfYSNTLx74QBBLr1frbUVgyvZApR7Hkg-egkt4EJqmFhyvY1wvW14S9MBTuPWCnLlgFoRdOWkEMfGnfL1nO1X95pAqUPsmPfcAEF5RivYsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Northampton Public Schools, MA","date","2025-01-12T00:54:56.273Z","article","Superintendent Bonner told the School Committee on Jan. 9 that central office has begun fiscal-year 2026 budget work and plans to present three budget versions in March: a targeted 4% proposal, a level-services budget, and a \"dream\" budget listing additional administrator requests.

\"We are going to do 3 versions of the budget,\" Bonner said, describing the level-services, targeted and request-driven scenarios the district will prepare as a first look for the committee.

Finance staff clarified a recent appropriation related to Bridge Street School. The committee and staff discussed a $40,000 appropriation that City Finance recommended and the committee accepted; the finance director explained that the appropriation will be folded into the district's recurring base for FY26 budget calculations rather than treated as a one-time supplement. That change means the base used for percentage-based scenarios will include the $40,000 increment going forward.

Committee members and staff noted that some revenue lines (Medicaid reimbursements, college-donation distributions, grants and school choice) are handled differently in municipal accounting and that those distinctions affect how the district calculates a starting base for next year's budget. The finance director said she would present a quarterly financial report and more detailed grant/revolving-fund information at the February meeting.

Several members urged near-term conversation about whether the committee should request supplemental appropriations this winter to address pressing staff shortages after multiple public commenters described operational impacts at JFK and other sites.

What comes next: The superintendent plans to bring the first-look budgets in March; the finance office will provide a quarterly report and grant/revolving-fund update in February. Staff said they will roll the Bridge Street positions funding into the FY26 base used to compute the 4% and level-services scenarios.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Northampton School Committee | January 9, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Superintendent Bonner said the district will produce three budget scenarios for FY26 (target 4% increase, level services, and a 'dream' budget). Finance staff said a recent $40,000 appropriation for Bridge Street School positions will be added to the recurring base used to calculate next year's budget.","taxTitle","Northampton Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",51089,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6393812,"School Committee will spotlight one norm per meeting after brief vote",936,4160000,5096000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2105322-dc1478a2c3ad2c19b1462c3fb451e9c9&start=4160&end=5096","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2105322-dc1478a2c3ad2c19b1462c3fb451e9c9/thumbnail_4160000.jpg","/articles/6393812/Northampton-Public-Schools/School-Boards/Massachusetts/School-Committee-will-spotlight-one-norm-per-meeting-after-brief-vote","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393812-df877038f4f7ccf6f21e0b7d72330f11/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437908&Signature=OX5gqlBk~7dDDWhQ-0sLzVmG4SlrOy8aHih5rF54rOMtAskJTCvmXunK1kCvX6gtb23bIJWz~yRnQE80SVXzzJvn1CiEB5uwVP-R0neCmZsomAXvEVExoT7smUcNZ12HY0X4NzWrUpzSbHsCkDixmjDOlKvQ-OCZkDXal1dcFteOVsZgfgNV61pd4BLHCMSGXoHB6x~GHr3ZhiC9Vv0IuZh200grvRB3BN7IqcEwSxQ-NUmeST9AlSjxIPqRsPFbMmmfejajrQKjo2QpX8A-o54msjI2IPByfWmDm1zV9iQSX0aKH70wSoSuZ35pG42XCjgobukjYdOF6OioYQf1zQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Northampton School Committee voted on Jan. 9 to begin briefly highlighting a single committee norm at the start of each meeting, rather than using a numerical scoring system at the meeting close.

Members debated the usefulness of the existing written scoring (a 0–2 scale) and whether it generated useful feedback. Some members said the score encourages private reflection; others said the numbers alone lack context and suggested the committee would benefit more from a short, shared reminder. \"I do find the scoring system a little challenging,\" one member said during discussion.

After discussion, the committee approved a motion to have one member briefly (two sentences) present a single norm at the start of each meeting, rotating through the list. The motion included direction that the brief reminder should not be an extended discussion; the intent is to keep the reminder short and focused. The roll-call result recorded at the meeting was 6 yes, 3 no.

Implementation: Committee members agreed to start in Ward 1 and rotate through wards; the clerk will organize the rotation and volunteers for future meetings. Members clarified the reminder does not require committee discussion and urged brevity to keep meetings on schedule.

","After debate about utility and scoring, the committee voted to brief the body on one committee norm at the start of each meeting, with a single member giving a two-sentence reminder and no extended discussion.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6393816,"Teachers, paraprofessionals and parents tell school committee JFK is understaffed and 'not safe' for some students",475,2693000,3168000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2105322-dc1478a2c3ad2c19b1462c3fb451e9c9&start=2693&end=3168","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2105322-dc1478a2c3ad2c19b1462c3fb451e9c9/thumbnail_2693000.jpg","/articles/6393816/Northampton-Public-Schools/School-Boards/Massachusetts/Teachers-paraprofessionals-and-parents-tell-school-committee-JFK-is-understaffed-and-not-safe-for-some-students","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393816-3b251faf62b7b8fdb75d3ebd234cd4af/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437908&Signature=e1eXynIAS4TXE6uOpiO43wevXOAIh9XW6CO9SLkl1~i90KM3CW70fmDZ94FqP8~enwxvJpPsOR07X5M73Q5i30dkoVKZ-f4cq9UBI2Ck9OjOg-1hwJbDcIVZhRYgQqOhT9skQd3U3zVnvpeSnGiDAN3LfLC~HQbz1gotOtzuUxFRyWx3jnAZmGbTPLXGrPHCPoKjo7dCmV4B3UEpTYuBIJU-fN-gdxfA~VrS~3GBhyvHFadmzf1ZaliCDzcfVvw7Rl~9bSEyL-Ic2TKymrGD4g-yT4o796o5ZTA-mflIIu1VisJCGLs0zza8bP5oK4b7OKhuEaaq7jEvISGbhhAiuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multiple teachers, paraprofessionals and parents used the public-comment period at the Jan. 9 School Committee meeting to describe staffing shortages, classroom coverage problems and escalating student behavior at JFK (the district's middle school), and to urge the committee to address funding shortfalls.

Sarah Churchill Windsor, a 17-year special-education educator at JFK, said staffing reductions and the resulting coverage demands are stretching staff and reducing service delivery. \"Having said all that, it's important to know that we are in distress,\" Windsor told the committee, describing administrators and paraprofessionals covering lunches and classes so students continue to receive instruction.

Marissa Wallace, a paraprofessional with two decades' experience in special education, said she has recently been pulled away from her assigned student for multiple days to cover other positions and that lack of paras means students \"are not getting the support that they need.\" Wallace added that some staff \"walk away at the end of the day feeling like we are falling woefully short because we don't have enough staff.\"

Parent Tish Serani described withdrawing her 13-year-old daughter from JFK because of repeated fights and chaotic classroom environments. \"JFK is not safe,\" Serani said on the Zoom call, recounting repeated fights and classroom evacuations she said occurred while her daughter was enrolled. Serani said she expects the district to fund appropriate special-education supports and, if necessary, private placement costs that follow from unmet needs.

Other commenters echoed concerns about teacher retention, coverage stress, lost prep time and reduced elective and specialty-class access as the district operates with reduced staffing. Several speakers tied current conditions to last year's budget cuts and urged the committee to prioritize restoring positions.

Committee members acknowledged the testimony and later raised the issue in their own business: Member Michael Stein urged the council to schedule a discussion at the next meeting on potential supplemental appropriations to address immediate staffing shortfalls, saying: \"We can't let this go on.\" The superintendent and finance director reported they are working on next year's budget and noted a recent $40,000 appropriation intended to create Bridge Street School positions that will be rolled into the district base.

Public comment is the portion of committee meetings where residents speak on matters of interest; speakers noted that written comment is accepted by email when they cannot attend.

","Multiple public commenters, including JFK special-education staff and parents, told the School Committee the middle school is understaffed and that staffing cuts and shortages are harming students' services and safety.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6393821,"School Committee approves 2025–26 Northampton High School program of study, flags graduation-policy change for review",2312,6732000,9044000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2105322-dc1478a2c3ad2c19b1462c3fb451e9c9&start=6732&end=9044","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2105322-dc1478a2c3ad2c19b1462c3fb451e9c9/thumbnail_6732000.jpg","/articles/6393821/Northampton-Public-Schools/School-Boards/Massachusetts/School-Committee-approves-202526-Northampton-High-School-program-of-study-flags-graduation-policy-change-for-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6393821-0a43ffe148435261252b4c31bd0dfd0d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437908&Signature=JCq5s5L~pE0vvEHFNi9q7rykm-3phTDtgObN7g8Crs3ahx0MX2l9S-s-BnrQqJ2oTtmJnPn~VFZblBH5PN994Yh0dqWhFtWHFJqhO3OBj3phOo8GdH3WLUSIXZASXSaCOmyYPyCSc47-GgE3IBYx3A18Sv2~S7h2MHNqOZBFmS5UamiqkatwNKVQGdXwNwUctU1U1hhyGO7KgA6ZzQOBHHyLR~nx0i4h3CnKP7Lb7XSgPFeySoauBdVQ20eI-YwQrWw9MEJr9AoXccilEWHDEjQbnrx1MfjxiIknbUHqcD4beIyQVq2-7gzhO2sVQmwW0KuyoMPJsU1MRxAiHqfeRw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Northampton School Committee on Jan. 9 approved the Northampton High School Program of Study for the 2025–26 school year, while asking staff to send proposed changes to graduation and attendance language to the rules and policy subcommittee for formal review.

Principal Tagliere presented the proposed program and described the multi-step process used to compile changes, saying department chairs reviewed course sections and guidance and administration winnowed the final list. \"I think everybody on the committee should have received a copy of the draft of the new Program of Studies,\" Tagliere said during the presentation.

The committee voted to approve the document with an amendment that adds an explanatory note to the Program of Study indicating that the district's graduation requirements and the NHS attendance requirement (the two-semester enrollment expectation for diplomas bearing the NHS designation) are subject to pending review and possible revision by the rules and policy subcommittee. Member Amber Hennessy pressed for the referral, saying the changes to history requirements and graduation language should be formally routed for policy review: \"we do need to send to the rules and policy\" subcommittee, she said.

Members asked detailed questions during the discussion. Michael Stein pressed for clarity on how standards-based grading and \"embedded honors\" are being implemented and evaluated, noting the district has requested follow-up data in prior years and that the curriculum subcommittee had previously asked for evaluative feedback. Principal Tagliere said grading is reported as numeric grades on transcripts and that math and science departments have adopted more standards-based pedagogical approaches, while other departments use standards-aligned assessments that translate into numeric grades.

Committee members also discussed staffing implications for the Program of Study, including whether further budget cuts would affect the school's ability to offer electives and maintain reasonable class sizes. Tagliere said current staffing leaves little flexibility: \"As it is now, with the way the class sizes average out, I cannot let a student take an English class as an elective,\" he said, adding that partnerships such as Smith College dual-enrollment help expand options.

The motion to approve the Program of Study (amended to include the rules-and-policy referral/asterisk) was moved and seconded and passed on a roll-call vote.

The committee also voted to send policy IFK (graduation requirements) to the rules and policy subcommittee for consideration and to note in the Program of Study that graduation/attendance language may change following that review.

Votes at a glance
- Approve Northampton High School Program of Study (2025–26), with amendment to note pending rules & policy review of graduation/attendance language — Motion passed (roll-call recorded by clerk).
- Referral: Send Policy IFK (graduation requirements) to rules and policy — Motion passed (roll-call recorded).

What happens next: The program of study will be posted as approved with the asterisk pending rules-and-policy review; the subcommittee will consider whether the two-semester NHS enrollment expectation and any MCAS-based language remain part of local graduation requirements and report back to the full committee.

Context: The Program of Study is the annual catalog of NHS course offerings and level-placement guidance used by students and families to plan high-school schedules and by counselors and administrators to set staffing and course sections.

","The Northampton School Committee approved the Northampton High School (NHS) Program of Study for 2025–26 with an asterisk noting that proposed graduation/attendance language will be reviewed by the rules and policy subcommittee for alignment with district graduation policy IFK.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Superintendent begins budget work; finance staff say $40,000 Bridge Street appropriation will be folded into recurring base

School Committee will spotlight one norm per meeting after brief vote

Teachers, paraprofessionals and parents tell school committee JFK is understaffed and 'not safe' for some students

School Committee approves 2025–26 Northampton High School program of study, flags graduation-policy change for review