[{"_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",[32,76,88],{"_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",6100127,"mediaKeyId","2814302-5e47466a2405003d38494b65f23c2c27","parentId",2814302,"title","Librarian urges trustees to oppose White House order targeting IMLS and requests Zoom public comment option","audioSeconds",328,"startMs",104000,"endMs",432000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2814302-5e47466a2405003d38494b65f23c2c27&start=104&end=432","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2814302-5e47466a2405003d38494b65f23c2c27/thumbnail_104000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6100127/Massachusetts/Librarian-urges-trustees-to-oppose-White-House-order-targeting-IMLS-and-requests-Zoom-public-comment-option","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100127-a6ae33c2aaee96edd16471f9676e73fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770744289&Signature=XpfKwGe64I6~kf7dMV8zTLChINO8JjVAf0lXgbKS45BEnD1BC9F~ECl9ZhV0rKlFoFd9gjUMIklyo2-Za7cOwPKHEk0yHCqUQrqDKiPay~A4m9Hi4t5Wg8QDhU2HfA3IHY06xnCFvetIzH~So9~Z7AMCORsKZWkRLNvAChm9s4XaxlprYmnWDVkoANQPQKFeNHtuo5M9bYP-onayH9x3DfukSU1JwL65fyY8Qi6HhbizzUbEd1oQvRY-2sG56BdDkCTZqkiNIQW4j-GkhLihwgbiWwySTTnwP4XnMjX~l6QgyU4BH-pm~2E6og2jBoetIOjDBgKSVYfmWxEOsuxiuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Northampton City, MA","date","2025-03-29T03:23:07.273Z","article","During the public-comment portion of the March 25 meeting, Leslie Stance Hobson, a Northampton resident and the school librarian, urged the board to register opposition to a White House executive order issued March 14 that she said targets nonstatutory components of federal agencies including the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). Hobson described how IMLS-funded programs support school databases and the Commonwealth eBook program (Sora) that the school uses.

Hobson said those databases provide vetted sources that reduce reliance on general internet searches and reduce the risk of misinformation; she described classroom assignments that relied on those licensed databases and noted that Sora provides ebook and audiobook access at about $1 per student. She told trustees the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners is coordinating with the Massachusetts Attorney General's office and other state library agencies seeking legal responses to the executive order, and she urged the school trustees to register opposition \"as a body or individually.\"

Hobson also asked the trustees to consider permitting remote public comment by Zoom, noting many families and staff live in multiple sending towns and cannot attend an in-person 5 p.m. meeting. She said allowing remote public comment would increase access for parents, sending-district residents, and staff who work later hours.

Outcome and context: The board did not take immediate formal action on the executive order request during the meeting. Trustees acknowledged the comment and the librarian's request about Zoom public comment; the transcript records the comment and a request to have the trustees consider the matter.

Background: Hobson cited the March 14 executive order and said state library agencies including Massachusetts, New York, Maine, Rhode Island, Colorado and Vermont were pursuing legal options. She emphasized the role of IMLS-supported resources in school research instruction and in supporting students who rely on simultaneous-access features for class sets through Sora.

Implementation notes: If trustees choose to act, options would include a board resolution or a letter to the governor or congressional delegation and a separate administrative decision to permit remote public comment and set procedural rules for it.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SVAHS Board of Trustees | March 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A Northampton resident and Smith school librarian spoke during public comment about a March 14 executive order that would cut nonstatutory federal functions such as some IMLS funding and urged the board to register opposition and expand public-comment access via Zoom.","taxTitle","Northampton City, Hampshire County, Massachusetts","taxId",68541,"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},6100132,"Trustees approve shop-rate and technology-use policy updates to standardize fees and consolidate guidance",753,2662000,3415000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2814302-5e47466a2405003d38494b65f23c2c27&start=2662&end=3415","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2814302-5e47466a2405003d38494b65f23c2c27/thumbnail_2662000.jpg","/articles/6100132/Massachusetts/Trustees-approve-shop-rate-and-technology-use-policy-updates-to-standardize-fees-and-consolidate-guidance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100132-e172c9e8906c3795476de04381893b83/orig.mp4?Expires=1770744289&Signature=FvAqciLknlEab01uhXp5i2867wiWEIOxekL40rllOmY5UF6HaBbWXU10YKWd99VbA6EG4Jjutfp5x-qTUFfvHkUnpKhIZR2sMT2oEO5MKez7goqaER6wSd3Pm3S-KHn8f2YD8W~Lrvekssww89VUwS4fyeZP95kvV1HhSknFE-ndDs2zF1u41CwRXQ1NoPrdn4WKMrLG2IRMJWmgNXvOQUa697T9vqVDHJlnhWorVDddod2jb7abgqiBz9fRq8ojG4s3AhSwjon7~SL9Y2dKuNHeCZlxqkfNkUxKP1vJW6ucXLPV0ikEU0lAAAMdLhsPeo43eEy3Vsh-FuSMkjHQrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School Board of Trustees on March 25 voted to amend two campus policies: the Shop Rate Policy and the Technology Acceptable Use Policy. Trustees approved both measures by voice vote after administrative presentations and subcommittee review.

Why it matters: The shop policy changes aim to provide consistent practices across the school's 15 shops, allow limited sales of industry-standard items where appropriate, and set clear expectations for marking up parts and materials so shop instructional funds can continue to support student learning. The updated technology policy consolidates multiple prior documents into a single, clearer policy for students and staff and adds explicit language about emails, social media use and artificial intelligence.

What trustees approved: The shop-rate amendment clarifies a $50 shop fee (previously authorized), allows percentage markups to cover parts and supplies, and establishes an administrative review process for items the shops may sell to the public (the policy specifies industry-standard items as eligible and uses cosmetology and carpentry as examples). Administrators emphasized that shop revenues are returned to the instructional revolving account and are intended to cover material costs and training-related mistakes while students learn.

The Technology Acceptable Use Policy was revised to streamline prior board and website documents into a single policy, align language with MASC guidance, and highlight legal and records-retention risks (for example, that district emails and social-media use may be discoverable in legal proceedings). The draft also addressed student and staff AI usage and noted that the school is monitoring state and federal rules such as the Children's Internet Protection Act.

Discussion and implementation: Trustees and committee members thanked the staff who benchmarked practices at other vocational schools and consolidated documents. The trustees directed administration and IT staff to distribute the new acceptable use policy to students, employees and parents and to prepare guidance on student directory data and AI use for future review.

Outcome: Both policy amendments passed by voice vote; the transcript records unanimous \"Aye\" responses but no numerical roll-call tallies.","The board approved an amended shop-rate policy to standardize how shops charge customers and an updated Technology Acceptable Use Policy consolidating prior documents and adding guidance on email, social media and AI usage.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6100137,"Smith Vocational trustees hear FY26 budget preview as tuition rate remains unknown",0,3833000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2814302-5e47466a2405003d38494b65f23c2c27&start=3833&end=3833","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2814302-5e47466a2405003d38494b65f23c2c27/thumbnail_3833000.jpg","/articles/6100137/Massachusetts/Smith-Vocational-trustees-hear-FY26-budget-preview-as-tuition-rate-remains-unknown","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100137-4a46cf1b0dd0ab21f8ef0c135b4461c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770744289&Signature=X869Jx2zI0Ks08aZrjAPLLldAULez-~vsCff0NaLjxhAp0~1LpWK149dlRr26DxucCGDevSYnYCszPYnG5JIhjBP7psrFEsLfkoQxY~hwdPK9Qztzc1Gt7rIVSxS0S4R3GaCX~pV3lKoTPBJXaFxkQINT2no9l4sbFqIJaYt73vKUhHIDBk3Tgx7pZMgM1IPoqlaZMWBv4~bYe7QUIKkaUeohqK0A8K8sJGZsi1bu80DX-12k2X2URexS90CGxRT~OEDFu8ZVA9Zf0ca-g09nesS8SehYxlv-jyuEFDfODIyfmVUdll8vJ0BA1ZceqCeNKZJLhb9FzEUw5~cZlvfdA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Trustees of Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School on March 25 heard a detailed preview of the district's proposed fiscal 2026 budget and were asked to set priorities while the state's nonresident tuition rate remained undetermined. The administration presented a draft built on a 3 percent assumed tuition increase and modest enrollment growth, and warned that level funding for materials and 'extraordinary maintenance' would reduce services even if staff positions were held steady.

The administration said official state guidance on the nonresident tuition rate had not arrived by the meeting; the budget as presented assumes a 3 percent increase and roughly 594 students in 2025'26. Officials said that assumption yields a proposed operating budget near $14.5 million, about a 3.9 percent increase over FY25, but cautioned the figure could change once the state posts the official nonresident tuition rate.

Why it matters: Smith draws students from multiple sending towns, and the board must balance the local cost to Northampton with revenue from nonresident tuition, capital projects funded by the city, and rising operating costs. Trustees were asked to indicate whether to preserve staffing levels, restore or increase supply and materials budgets, or set aside funds for extraordinary maintenance and pending contract settlements.

Administrators walked trustees through several interlocking pressures. The school is budgeting only two additional nonresident students for FY26, a much smaller increase than in prior years; transportation for Northampton students is funded from a tuition-revolving account, and administrators said about 7.94 additional nonresident students (under the draft assumptions) would be needed to cover that contract cost. The presentation noted that leveling materials and equipment budgets effectively buys fewer supplies because vendor prices have risen, and that leaving extraordinary maintenance at $0 would eliminate a supplemental funding source used in recent years for building repairs and small capital projects.

Trustees received a rundown of other budget drivers: completion of the horticulture building project, potential effects of federal actions on state funding, and pending labor negotiations with Unit D. The administration said the city has approved roughly $635,000 in capital projects (including HVAC/AC projects) that are accounted for separately from the operating budget but reduce available city funds for recurring operating needs.

Administration officials flagged choices for trustees: accept level funding for materials and zero extraordinary maintenance to protect staff positions, or prioritize facility and materials spending and consider staffing reductions if necessary. The presenter asked trustees to give clear priorities so the administration could return with a balanced budget for a formal vote at the board's April 8 meeting when the state tuition rate is expected to be available.

Background and context: The board received enrollment data (587 students reported on Oct. 1; the administration said the active count was about 584 on the night of the meeting) and an update on admissions and DESE's proposed changes to vocational-technical admissions rules. Administrators also noted a longer-term trend of leveling enrollment across regional vocational schools in Western Massachusetts, which affects revenue projections.

Next steps: Administrators said they will update the draft after the state posts the nonresident tuition rate and will incorporate trustees' priorities into the April 8 budget vote. Trustees asked for more detail on assumptions used in the draft and the likely financial impact of pending contract settlements.","School leaders presented a draft FY26 budget that assumes a modest tuition increase but leaves key spending decisions open pending the state's nonresident tuition rate and contract negotiations; trustees were asked to set priorities for staffing, supplies and maintenance.","actionData","errors"]

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Librarian urges trustees to oppose White House order targeting IMLS and requests Zoom public comment option

Trustees approve shop-rate and technology-use policy updates to standardize fees and consolidate guidance

Smith Vocational trustees hear FY26 budget preview as tuition rate remains unknown