[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6359893,"mediaKeyId","2175537-1c755918335439e4b9b3dea51af89700","parentId",2175537,"title","Parents and educators press for restored intramurals, stronger after‑school options and healthier school meals","audioSeconds",231,"startMs",2569000,"endMs",2800000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2175537-1c755918335439e4b9b3dea51af89700&start=2569&end=2800","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2175537-1c755918335439e4b9b3dea51af89700/thumbnail_2569000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6359893/Massachusetts/Parents-and-educators-press-for-restored-intramurals-stronger-afterschool-options-and-healthier-school-meals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6359893-072c675e1ed1953cb53a15eee6e3015f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771031615&Signature=Ul-iXpOkK96tCyPkXYDGKIkFLn0-y6Nm46sR0NRLO5yR6B8WoPwtwvsWo~QapANoF~B3jqrsxXY9Qh~Tje1DblBeN8LNLrfNClfVW3uQ66v7qHGNaJrpU3axU0f-2WDOZvDQCFSwRc~nVe8~yW3Y-ehZYlZ1D-7~T-TrcCIt9nsZ2SbJdUrPy3mYJw95EQzhiQzB8lNqBAY7Z8kLPCvygPfBTvj9jKfoJFQQF~m0erCYJ~H9inWdbPuhKP3wlH5od60phmswfoTcAFMULJwFbNJSYX7ImJFHMD21JKwBenyiz2o8pbYwFW268hXsC~woI-jWnH8cW5qlCLzU8676KA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Holyoke Public Schools, MA","date","2025-01-30T00:00:00Z","article","Parents, educators and community organizations at the advisory meeting urged the district to restore intramural sports, expand after‑school programming, and improve the quality and cultural appropriateness of school meals.

A parent and former district employee said intramurals were an important part of students’ school experience and suggested using school facilities to restore such programming so parents and families can participate and support students. Community providers at the meeting noted many nonprofits already offer after‑school activities and suggested the district prioritize coordination, transportation and open enrollment so families can access those programs.

Food access and meal quality were raised as operational priorities. One community member asked for meals that align better with students’ cultural preferences and healthier options, saying that current offerings sometimes do not reflect community expectations. Attendees also recommended stronger collaboration between the district and local nonprofits to connect families with existing services and to help provide transportation where needed.

Organizers said they will capture these requests in the advisory team’s report and asked participants to provide concrete, fundable steps the team can recommend to the school committee and city as part of transition planning.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Holyoke City School Committee Community Advisory Meeting 1/27/2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the advisory meeting parents, teachers and community providers urged the district to restore intramural programs, expand after‑school opportunities and improve school meal quality, and asked the advisory team to include these operational priorities in its report.","taxTitle","Holyoke Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",67734,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6359896,"School psychologist urges clearer special‑education protocols and attention to English‑learner assessments",1891,1076000,2967000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2175537-1c755918335439e4b9b3dea51af89700&start=1076&end=2967","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2175537-1c755918335439e4b9b3dea51af89700/thumbnail_1076000.jpg","/articles/6359896/Massachusetts/School-psychologist-urges-clearer-specialeducation-protocols-and-attention-to-Englishlearner-assessments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6359896-69ae6489dc550d805b4b08045ac0b0f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771031615&Signature=XC4X2SDzrWiGTwfWn3jaC4txVRk5~38GKb4JyqPvW8G6qTu1mEjLgoRVq8NEz9DJrWQOdVVaeuWIrESdbyXaH9r4pndNha03gcUYwiNtaK61bDBhspOhtugmDZ~9fvXqyMBSOAsnmJLhEvMnqoA17P3TFptKJ-A~sxPkXazITaLht3T~Bne32Is9B9oTyoEQZMOo6cTdQqP2mS7gtgMRItPAaQufW9GrRrYxmDm7RQskKELnQGiaMy-BdgFcsPNmEaQsZZt32sURsx5~hq2pKjwT5DcNDRFW0EQP2VFu0u2C662HIUlSwwK5lZMhSQYlg9bzb20VcfPW-2EfGtSbyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several participants called for consistent, district‑wide protocols for special education evaluations, meetings and Individualized Education Program (IEP) implementation, and urged the advisory team to include those protocols among recommended action steps.

Evelyn Abbott Salazar, a school psychologist who said this is her first year in Holyoke Public Schools, noted that poor standardized test scores contributed to the district’s receivership designation and cautioned that English‑language learner status can depress assessment results. Salazar said, “if you don't know the English language, of course, you're going to score poorly on standardized assessments,” and asked the committee to ensure the district does not penalize students for language barriers.

Later in the meeting Salazar asked for “actionable protocols for special education legal processes” so that evaluations, meetings and procedures are conducted consistently across schools. She said differences in how individual schools handle special education processes can lead to confusion when staff cover cases across sites and can open opportunities for miscommunication.

Students and parents raised concerns about how IEP accommodations are followed in classrooms and asked for more representation and oversight to make sure teachers and staff check and implement documented supports. One student with an IEP described repeated experiences where teacher notes were not followed and urged stronger systems of accountability and feedback.

Organizers said the advisory report will collect these points; participants asked that the report include specific, actionable protocol recommendations for evaluations, meeting timelines and staff training so the district can ensure consistent special education practice.","A Holyoke school psychologist and other meeting participants called for consistent, actionable protocols for special education evaluations and meetings and raised concerns about how English‑language proficiency affects standardized test results used in receivership evaluations.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6359899,"Advisory meeting spotlights digital divide, community groups offer training and device support",774,3244000,4018000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2175537-1c755918335439e4b9b3dea51af89700&start=3244&end=4018","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2175537-1c755918335439e4b9b3dea51af89700/thumbnail_3244000.jpg","/articles/6359899/Massachusetts/Advisory-meeting-spotlights-digital-divide-community-groups-offer-training-and-device-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6359899-934da8b1b973c2343ede0ef78831483e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771031615&Signature=CVfFtELOtcIItvGPCBK1ZLhgwfymISNB94QH2t2jrWIQWW-GmtPZgqiY9KQxNpViNvJcLY7xEbNl0LrQAoOD28v4soLqwBisJwvZpBcW3L6~GWLkNPTViJ7Pa56-Qs5Wl4aRJIuGn-sJ8tsIDP2NPTvuH5S4jwjbI5ONrIhAVaEWkUxgM2eHQaHdLpbc9XRnscTq2GGJqzXb7~cKY1sMbsh-RKesP6dm2XTMlD6HndxoT5CHnw-itP2ScAntrYGe8Aq489Bchol5-smO7iGwU1cQtYZ7R~pAazyewHEf8aXKX63-8A~QNaXo5TWAb6G~C7XUCh8fs7fDLUZSXtAiMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Community members and facilitators at the advisory team meeting said inequitable access to internet and devices is a major obstacle for Holyoke students and families and urged the district to pair device distribution with long‑term connectivity and training plans.

Eric Weiss, the PVPC facilitator, presented regional data on “digital inequity,” concluding that “plain and simple, those who have means have much more access to the Internet than those who don't,” and that the gap affects education, health and access to services. Weiss told the group that differences in household access are tied to income and race in the region and urged the advisory team to treat digital access as an ongoing district priority.

Participants detailed how the district’s distribution of Chromebooks and other devices—largely purchased with federal ESSER pandemic funds—does not automatically solve access problems if families lack home internet, device support, or training. Attendees suggested prioritizing students with greatest need, providing hotspots or subsidized home connections, restoring late buses or supervised after‑school computer access, and teaching students and parents how to use school platforms rather than assuming familiarity.

Local organizations offered concrete support. Holyoke Media and other community groups described existing programs and open hours for device help, digital literacy courses, and short‑term hotspot or device lending to bridge gaps while the district develops a longer‑term plan. One community speaker said the city has “a big initiative… to get everybody equity across the board in the digital literacy area” and described open‑hours training sessions and a year of hotspot support where funding permits.

The group noted operational questions: how the district will fund device replacement once ESSER funding ends, whether one‑to‑one device programs remain the best model, and the need for consistent expectations about device return and inventory accountability. Attendees also emphasized multilingual outreach, noting Spanish translations in district materials were often poor and that the district must support other languages spoken in Holyoke.

Organizers said they will include digital equity as a subject for the advisory team’s next meetings and will collect community feedback through the district survey; participants asked the advisory team to report recommended, fundable actions for connectivity, device maintenance and training.","Participants at the Holyoke advisory meeting emphasized a local digital divide that limits students’ access to online instruction and district communication. Organizers and community groups discussed surveys, device distribution, hotspots and training to address gaps.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6359905,"Advisory team to guide Holyoke Public Schools’ exit from receivership and superintendent search",958,2157000,3115000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2175537-1c755918335439e4b9b3dea51af89700&start=2157&end=3115","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2175537-1c755918335439e4b9b3dea51af89700/thumbnail_2157000.jpg","/articles/6359905/Massachusetts/Advisory-team-to-guide-Holyoke-Public-Schools-exit-from-receivership-and-superintendent-search","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6359905-74d88882493908c7960fa59794127867/orig.mp4?Expires=1771031615&Signature=ABQsmfk3iNBUUHr6~DklH1Wjq1KoVzldtlpdwHMw6TfVWRjrucNEnsOLx4ooz7Nb98K1NkxRYayR9nkr72-EWqFMrGvaleiGHpH1rzMuOApMW9IsiYgd428p-4Z9V97Cz3q2bUpqLMCg8hR34m0YpHWPPI2jB2C5BswlgoNdrR7C8S0Q7quZaAETzihchxw3xAN8vWzbk7yK85G~67aKxXUlaI2I51x58iJZiOn~CXKUA-jjt6Ap1wbMn6zXr3dxWYxEJcHz5tTImKLCuWjXdp258s8M4laPgRu6oNZ8OKDDKLuERSkIXua8~LOVxviEkxxF3OiEHEhydBlZvD9ekA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A community advisory team convened by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission met to begin a four‑meeting public process intended to guide Holyoke Public Schools’ transition out of state receivership and to provide community input for a forthcoming superintendent search.

The PVPC’s Eric Weiss, who is facilitating the meetings, told participants the group’s role is to “support the school committee’s planning and implementation of a superintendent hiring and evaluation process” and to compile a report that will go back to the city summarizing community views and recommended action steps. Weiss said the team intends to prioritize achievable action steps and broad public engagement across the series of meetings.

Why it matters: the district is in a state receivership, and the committee’s report and community input are intended to shape the scope and priorities for the school committee and the incoming district leadership. Ellie Wilson, a Ward 7 school committee member, corrected one line of language used at the meeting: “we do not have a superintendent, we have a receiver.” That distinction informed multiple participants’ remarks about what powers remain with local leaders while receivership is in place.

Participants asked for clarity on timeline and process. A school committee member told the group the committee is “tentatively expected to come out of receivership July 1,” and said the committee is awaiting input from the advisory team to inform the superintendent search. Weiss confirmed the advisory team will generate a district‑wide survey and a final report integrating public forums and meeting notes.

Meeting accessibility and recordkeeping drew immediate comment. Several attendees said translation and interpretation services were not available at the first meeting; a representative of Holyoke Media noted that providing translation was the school department’s responsibility, not PVPC’s, and organizers said interpretation and translated materials would be arranged for future sessions.

Organizers described the format and schedule: four meetings to gather community input, public forums open to wider participation, and a final product — a written report to the city summarizing discussion points and recommended action steps. Weiss asked participants to forward concrete, community‑sourced items the team should address in upcoming meetings; attendees proposed, among other things, a written set of qualifications and expectations to inform the superintendent search.

The meeting closed with a plan to circulate a survey and to publish meeting records; organizers said the next sessions would include translation and additional outreach so participation could be broader and more representative.","A community advisory team convened by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission opened a four‑meeting process to collect public input, produce a report for the city and advise the school committee on hiring and evaluating the next superintendent as Holyoke prepares to exit receivership.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents and educators press for restored intramurals, stronger after‑school options and healthier school meals

School psychologist urges clearer special‑education protocols and attention to English‑learner assessments

Advisory meeting spotlights digital divide, community groups offer training and device support

Advisory team to guide Holyoke Public Schools’ exit from receivership and superintendent search