The Northampton School Committee convened on June 12, 2025, to discuss several key agenda items, including budget adjustments, the revised school calendar, and the acceptance of grants from the Northampton Education Foundation (NEF).

The meeting began with a financial transfer request, moving funds from the tuition account to the special education teacher salary account. This transfer aims to cover costs incurred during the current year for special education teachers. The motion to approve this transfer was made by Member Gazzi and seconded by Member Miller, receiving unanimous approval from all members present.

Next, the committee reviewed the revised school year calendar for 2025-2026. Two significant changes were made: the date for professional development was shifted from March 12 to September 16 to accommodate the primary election, and a miscalculation regarding the number of school days was corrected. Member Hennessy raised a concern about a half-day workday coinciding with an AP exam date, but it was clarified that this had been discussed with faculty and staff prior to the decision. The revised calendar was subsequently approved following a motion by Member Gacy and a second by Member Sine.

The meeting then transitioned to new business, where representatives from NEF, Sam Hopper and Jennifer Sanders James, presented a proposal for small grants to educators totaling $32,950.35. This funding will support 11 educational projects across various schools, including field trips, robotics integration, and literary magazine production. The committee expressed gratitude for NEF's contributions and acknowledged the competitive nature of the grant application process, which saw double the number of applications compared to available funding. The motion to accept the grants was made by Member Miller and seconded by Member Reisenfroid, passing with unanimous support.

Additionally, Joy Hermanson from NEF provided an update on the endowment grants for elementary schools, highlighting a new $150,000 perpetual grant set to begin in the 2026-2027 school year. This grant aims to enhance the educational experience at the preschool and elementary levels.

The meeting concluded with an invitation for community members to attend the NEF showcase event, where educators will present projects funded by previous grants. The committee expressed appreciation for the ongoing support from NEF and encouraged community involvement in future initiatives.