[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":73},"mediaId",6107485,"mediaKeyId","2774486-34073ce5c18b903d4279a3d95ca55627","parentId",2774486,"title","Longmeadow School Committee approves revised FY26 budget after reductions to align with town manager","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1887295,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2774486-34073ce5c18b903d4279a3d95ca55627&start=1887&end=1887","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2774486-34073ce5c18b903d4279a3d95ca55627/thumbnail_1887295.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6107485/Massachusetts/Longmeadow-School-Committee-approves-revised-FY26-budget-after-reductions-to-align-with-town-manager","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107485-27573578400a9d4a3b5f953fac538f66/orig.mp4?Expires=1770770011&Signature=T7gPjq4NqzvV48I6X-9Q2kPpD5npEbl40Zcn3dTGK~iwDUyibCWiW4USbjgVTbe-Zv13pSAdOvm9yvUtkc4NEDz8Vj0woKTgGwr0Aw5Pr-O~kjlY7sR6VWBj2r6N-rHp77Dbkcs8UMhG16CijYBDj5h-Bp-wiTsljsbnGf-2qQV8VjWkhFXD23Ru37YfffQd9NJFrK3XAbc4Bsk3bPSf1qVAti0vufq0e7oVe5NLpo0NTezHpT-aR6gd9KOl4lfsYEbke1hkJ~NfA9V5l561ti1rdcTb0XnbOtu7KNfMq5r4YhEjE0jTi0uH1w1OABSwxTPf9lBa6~femogqKHSphg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Longmeadow Public Schools, MA","date","2025-03-26T00:00:00Z","article","The Longmeadow School Committee on March 25 voted to submit a revised FY26 school department budget of $44,776,482.92, with a general fund allocation of $41,394,307.44, to the town manager for inclusion in annual town meeting on May 13, 2025.

Administrators told the committee the school committee’s original February 11 voted budget exceeded the town manager’s recommendation by $81,397. The town manager recommended a 3% increase over FY25 for the schools; the committee’s revision reduces the committee’s earlier request to align with that recommendation.

Superintendent Dr. Chase and Assistant Superintendent Mazza described line-item reductions and sources of savings: newly surfaced staff attrition (savings from lower-step hires), a $10,000 reduction in curriculum-adoption expenses (no major adoption anticipated), a $13,000 reduction in consumable supplies (including reducing a K–8 per-student consumable allocation from $10 to $5 and a $4,000 reduction at the high school), a reduction in contracted evaluation expenses, modest cuts in computer hardware/repairs, an athletics reduction of $10,000 targeted at transportation or site-management efficiencies, and a change to an ELL coordination stipend reflecting increased administrative capacity from the director of student family support (Nilda Arizari).

Administrators told the committee they sought to preserve direct classroom staffing and maintain service levels; they said the reductions aim to avoid layoffs and to prioritize non-classroom, lower-impact lines where feasible.

Committee members asked whether other town departments would be affected and whether additional state aid later in the year could permit a supplemental appropriation; administrators said the town manager must balance competing town needs (for example, DPW staffing) and that if additional state aid arrives the committee could seek a supplemental appropriation at town meeting as occurred the prior year.

The committee voted by roll call to approve the revised budget and send it to the town manager. The meeting also approved a consent agenda covering five building-use requests (three Park & Rec camps, one dance recital, and one PTO event) and then voted to move into executive session to prepare for collective bargaining; those motions were recorded separately.

Votes at a glance:
- Approve consent agenda (five building-use items): motion moved and seconded; roll call: Adam — yes; Jamie — yes; Julie — yes; Zach — yes; Estelle — yes; Chair — yes. Outcome: approved.
- Approve revised FY26 school department budget of $44,776,482.92 with general fund allocation $41,394,307.44 and submit to town manager for inclusion in annual town meeting (5/13/2025): motion moved and seconded; roll call: Adam — yes; Jamie — yes; Julie — yes; Zach — yes; Estelle — yes; Chair — yes. Outcome: approved.
- Adjourn to executive session for collective bargaining preparation and executive minutes release: motion moved and seconded; roll call: Adam — yes; Jamie — yes; Julie — yes; Zach — yes; Estelle — yes; Chair — yes. Outcome: approved.

Administrators emphasized the budget season remains active and that the proposed reductions are intended to be reversible if additional state aid materializes and the committee secures a supplemental appropriation at town meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Longmeadow School Committee 032525","oneSentenceSummary","The committee voted to submit a revised FY26 school budget of $44,776,482.92 (general fund $41,394,307.44) to align its request with the town manager’s 3% recommendation, making targeted reductions across supplies, curriculum, evaluation, ELL coordination stipends and athletics.","taxTitle","Longmeadow Public Schools, School Boards, Massachusetts","taxId",71624,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_46":81,"_48":82,"_50":83,"_52":84,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":85,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":86,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6107489,"Longmeadow administration schedules public events on middle school building and stadium field options",181,937020,1118620,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2774486-34073ce5c18b903d4279a3d95ca55627&start=937&end=1118","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2774486-34073ce5c18b903d4279a3d95ca55627/thumbnail_937020.jpg","/articles/6107489/Massachusetts/Longmeadow-administration-schedules-public-events-on-middle-school-building-and-stadium-field-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107489-c77274eccd552c3a469a0b658ee6fa35/orig.mp4?Expires=1770770011&Signature=mHbJS3MzHNn9wtAjC9qPX0DmzfZ9DbgLsMS4zXOZKx6N1WBBkFLYcKcmqDnN3OqmNYIw87xF697u2Cyf2Tlepn4~hmHddWDIZTp8sger8X1e5-nQKi8w-xl0z~~rF3AfFAvjXiRduuXf~HnvtRUJx5Qups0W1G99soHa8G3ajqk3VWwkZ04dxfH~4nyw4Uc7RmFfWRzndXU83NrMkU-4r1VB-yJHe~pF~i1-vLKRlnHwkk7JKowMvoqwPNiHb87jE02nORttOioy-yx2a0IHH4y2vWnojcyaAIwKqKD5UyZa2yWZ1DIDCx1apPkgkkRCskBVP1S3xAvANi6zMq~YEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Longmeadow School Committee heard updates March 25 on the district’s middle school building project and on a separate town-funded feasibility study about the high school stadium playing surface.

Superintendent Dr. Chase told the committee the district will host a public engagement event on April 10 to share progress on the middle school project and gather community feedback. A site conference for prospective contractors to visit Williams Middle School is scheduled for the coming Friday, the superintendent said. The district is also working with its design team to pursue sustainability features that could earn incentive points from the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA).

Separately, the town’s feasibility study on options for the stadium field will be presented publicly on Thursday, April 3, at the Longmeadow Adult Center. The study is intended to inform a decision between natural grass and a synthetic turf surface; the superintendent said the presentation will share the options and seek community input.

District officials cautioned that the stadium decision is separate from the middle school project. The superintendent reiterated that public engagement will be expanded so residents can review design choices, materials, and sustainability measures before the district advances major commitments.

No formal vote on the building project or the stadium surface was taken at the March 25 meeting; the committee was told additional meetings and outreach are planned.","District officials highlighted upcoming public engagement on the middle school project and a town feasibility presentation on the high school stadium playing surface, and said design work is pursuing sustainability credits for MSBA incentives.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_46":93,"_48":94,"_50":95,"_52":96,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":97,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":98,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6107494,"Resident urges Longmeadow schools to act after repeated antisemitic incidents",184,491555,676110,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2774486-34073ce5c18b903d4279a3d95ca55627&start=491&end=676","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2774486-34073ce5c18b903d4279a3d95ca55627/thumbnail_491555.jpg","/articles/6107494/Massachusetts/Resident-urges-Longmeadow-schools-to-act-after-repeated-antisemitic-incidents","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6107494-bd53757c760e28638d10260627be37f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770770011&Signature=ctylLQAoR6xpdx3-RXX3HLcolbfsnGT17-B1jKxqIiVhsCC39IjAjPtJB6Nn2b3Usj2ATfNwHXN8ZydVp~OUZx-r~oBArBLwmgYloPr8VBXAIM4PVKPxweDuT5GJwAdmW88glLExuGk0z9PPIIuTSP8OcZ5RLNiY14Ns9m82u433y9O2Qwy115dTRd6hPpTwda~DoIwkq~zZY5W1lQKDSNCaFc-Uj6DTgPJYAFmTQdwD91ZsJC-pxDJIpxF7962nyt7W3QNXMudWVaVAX1qz~YS2VShUMe-ZWU9Q4WlfHpibUDjObkCZq34kK~ahNmsM7aQeBgVt-ndkH1T8geNf8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A Longmeadow resident told the Longmeadow School Committee on March 25 that he has observed recurring antisemitic comments and incidents involving students and called on the district to do more than a single assembly in response.

Allen Scribe, a Longmeadow resident, said he has heard “about five instances already,” including a middle school incident he described as a music teacher “comparing the Holocaust to a musical instrument,” students calling others “Hitler,” and stickers found in school buildings. “This latest incident, I think what the community is waiting for is what happened after the fact,” Scribe said, asking whether police were involved and whether the district had followed up beyond an assembly.

Superintendent Dr. Chase said the district appreciates the concern and invited further conversation. “I’d love the chance to chat with you…about some of the strategies that we’re working on,” the superintendent said, and added the district wants to address incidents transparently, investigate them “firmly with the police involved as well,” and communicate with families.

Committee members said they want the issue revisited beyond one assembly. A member who spoke during public comment and later in the meeting said many students—middle and high school—do not yet grasp the full historical gravity of the Holocaust and suggested arranging survivor testimony from anyone in the community able to speak to students’ lived experience.

Committee members asked administration to bring follow-up and educational options to a future meeting so the committee and public can understand steps taken and long-term plans for classroom instruction and community education. The superintendent and at least one committee member said they would connect with Scribe after the meeting to share information and plan next steps.

The public comment concluded without a formal vote or directive recorded in the meeting minutes.","A Longmeadow resident told the school committee he has observed an increase in antisemitic comments and incidents in district schools and asked for clearer follow-up and community education; district leaders said they will investigate and seek community engagement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Longmeadow School Committee approves revised FY26 budget after reductions to align with town manager

Longmeadow administration schedules public events on middle school building and stadium field options

Resident urges Longmeadow schools to act after repeated antisemitic incidents