SOS Support Our Schools

Summary of Summer 2024 Meetings

August 27, 2024

Summer Update

  • In total, the district eliminated 22 positions and reduced two positions. Over the last two years the district has eliminated 35 positions. (On July 31st, additional state Chapter 70 funds were used to add back in 2.7 positions- NHS adjustment counselor 1.0, JFK 0.5 reading and 1.0 math interventionists, and RR BCBA changed from 0.8 to 1.0). We are 2 million dollars short of level services.
  • In line with the predictions from Ward 3 City Councilor Quaverly Rothenberg’s 6/17/24 special presentation to city council, Northampton ended up generating almost 8 million dollars in free cash that will be certified in November 2024. (Separately, we have many millions in stabilization funds.)
  • The mayor asked for an override, then asked the council to rescind the override. The override was canceled.
  • The subcommittee’s evaluation on Superintendent Bonner was completed. She received a score of Needs Improvement. The school committee will vote on this recommendation at an upcoming meeting.
  • The Strategic Planning Committee has been meeting behind closed doors since January 2024. The public is not permitted to participate and minutes/recordings are not available. The committee announced that they will be presenting a report at a school committee meeting in September.
  • NPS Staff convocation was on 8/26/24. Historically, Northampton’s mayors have made speeches at this event to welcome our educators and staff back to school. The mayor was scheduled to speak this year as well, but did not attend.
    • NASE President Andrea Egitto spoke at the convocation. Here is her statement, shared with permission.
  • There has been a focus on determining the most ethical process to make determinations on restoring positions when funds do become available. This will be put on the agenda for an upcoming school committee meeting. This discussion resulted from an incident that occurred:
    • In June, an at-large school committee member and an at-large city councilor joined with other elected officials to lobby the superintendent. They asked her to return several positions to a single school. Public records show she declined. However, in the days that followed, the decision was reversed behind closed doors and those positions were restored. Subsequently, certain members reversed their statements on the school budget and switched from endorsing the level services budget to supporting the budget that involved 22 staffing cuts.

We need as much participation as possible this year! Please Support Our Schools through displaying a lawn sign, reading public comment and meeting transcripts, and writing letters to city officials. Our students, educators, and staff need as much community support as possible.

August 9, 2024

Meeting Recaps

  • School Committee Superintendent Evaluation Meeting –  August 7
    • Discussion of evaluation of Dr. Portia Bonner
      • The subcommittee reviewed individual survey responses from school committee members and consolidated the information into a final review using forms and guidance from DESE. 
      • The final recommendation was NEEDS IMPROVEMENT. There will be a School Committee vote on this recommendation at the September school committee meeting.
      • Meeting recording link not available on Youtube
  • School Committee Meeting –  Thursday August 8
    • Superintendent’s update on strategic plan committee
      • A handout was provided to school committee members. At this time, the document has not been made available to the public. There was mention of the handout being posted in the superintendent’s August newsletter.
      • The committee is focusing on the following objectives: refurbish Northampton school facilities for net zero carbon emissions, technology upgrades/classroom and bathroom upgrades, NPS priority instructional approaches and strategies: By November 2024 the NPS budget will fund identified priorities in alignment with the city’s fiscal stability plan, optimize the district’s food program, improve english language arts and math outcomes for english language learners, strengthen the sense of belonging by students, staff and caregivers
    • Discussion on superintendent evaluation
      • Subcommittee’s recommendation for Dr.Bonner: “Needs Improvement”. The School Committee vote on this recommendation will be in September
    • Discussion topics: Lobbying solely for Jackson Street Elementary (but not for the other schools) by Gwen Agna (school committee at-large), Karen Foster-Cannon (school committee ward 2), Holly Ghazey (school committee ward 1), Marissa Elkins (city council at-large), and Stanley Moulton (city council, ward 1) will be placed on the agenda for discussion at a future meeting.
    • Meeting starts at 1:27:00: YouTube – Northampton School Committee 8-5-2024

Upcoming Meetings

  • Strategic Planning Committee – Monday, August 12, Possibly at JFK Community room
    • No information available- The committee has indicated these meetings are not subject to open meeting law.
    • Minutes and recordings are not provided.
  • City Council Meeting – Thursday, August 15 6:30 pm , Virtual with public comment.  Agenda: 8-15-2024 Agenda

August 4, 2024

Excess City Funds

The mayor confirmed on 8/1/24 that the city has generated over $2 million dollars in excess funds (consisting of interest and above-prediction tax revenue). The exact number has not been released to the public yet. It remains to be determined how this money will be allocated.

Meeting Recaps

  • Special City Council Meeting –  July 31
  • Special School Committee Meeting –  July 31
    • State Chapter 70 funds ($192,400) funds were accepted. Members discussed how to spend the funds. A spreadsheet was provided to Members listing four different columns of spending options (Member Serafy-Cox’s list, Member Miller’s list, Principal’s list, District/Superintendent’s List).
  • Ultimately, the District (Superintendent’s) list was passed (Serafy-Cox, Stein, and Miller voted no. Foster-Cannon was absent).
  • The positions that will be added back using additional State Chapter 70 funds for 2025 are:
    • NHS adjustment counselor 1.0,
    • JFK 0.5 reading interventionist,
    • JFK math interventionist 1.0,
    • RR BCBA will increase from 0.8 to 1.0.
  • Meeting Recording: Northampton Open Media – YouTube

Upcoming Meetings

  • Special City Council Meeting – Monday August 5, 9:00am
    • This meeting was called by the Mayor at the end of the July 31 School Committee meeting. There will be a vote to remove the Override question from the ballot in the 2024 election.
    • Agenda link; virtual Meeting; no public comment
  • Superintendent Evaluation Meeting – Wednesday August 7, 5:00pm
    • Discussion of evaluation of Dr. Portia Bonner. Agenda not posted yet
    • IMPORTANT: Please give feedback on Dr. Bonner via EMAIL prior to WEDNESDAY AUGUST 7th.
    • There will be no survey and the previous June Google Doc survey responses will not be considered. Please email school committee members with your comments. To send an email to the entire School Committee:  

[email protected]

Email list by Ward: School Committee Email List

  • School Committee Meeting – Thursday August 8, 6:30 pm (in person with public comment). Agenda not posted yet
  • City Council Meeting – Thursday August 15. Agenda not posted yet

Final List of Cuts

In total, the district eliminated 22 positions and reduced two positions. Over the last two years the district has eliminated 35 positions. 

On July 31, additional state Chapter 70 funds were used to add back in 2.7 positions: NHS adjustment counselor 1.0, JFK 0.5 reading and 1.0 math interventionists, and RR BCBA changed from 0.8 to 1.0

Interested in Running for Office or Working on Elections? 

If you or someone you know is interested in running for office there will be more information available to assist you in coming weeks.  As we look forward to 2025 there will be several spots to fill and SOS will be here to help candidates who support our schools.  If you are interested in working on elections to support candidates who will adequately support our schools, contact [email protected]

Flyers for Posting on Community Bulletin Boards 

Please support SOS by printing a flyer and displaying it on a local bulletin board or at a local business in your community.  If you’d like a flyer but do not have access to a printer, email [email protected] and we will arrange to deliver or mail to you.

Take a Photo with a Fund Our Schools Sign

Send it to Cathy McNally at [email protected] for the SOS Northampton Facebook page.

July 26, 2024

SCHOOL COMMITTEE

  • July 24, 2024 meeting held remotely on Zoom.
  • The Mayor did not attend. Member Agna was acting chair.
  • The first part of this meeting was held in Executive Session to discuss the open meeting law complaint regarding the leak to the Gazette of Members Agna, Foster-Cannon, Davis statement on the vote of no confidence in Superintendent Bonner.
  • The second part of this meeting was a continuation of the June 26 meeting which was adjourned before completing the agenda.  Member Serafy-Cox presented a proposal and presented a motion to save some student facing positions across the district and making some other cuts in their place. 
  • A discussion and vote followed.  The motion was voted down (Members Serafy-Cox and Stein voted yes.  Karen Foster-Cannon left the meeting early and did not vote, the Mayor was absent, the remaining members voted no).
  • Meeting Recording Northampton Open Media – YouTube; (meeting starts at 1:10:30)

Final List of Cuts

  • In total the district eliminated 22 positions and reduced two positions. Over the last two years the district has eliminated 35 positions.

Possible Increase in State Funding for Schools

On July 26 it was announced that the state may provide an extra $192,400 in Chapter 70 funds for NPS.  This is due to Massachusetts legislation (still in process). This money could be used to save some vital positions.

MassLive Guest Column: Northampton has money for schools.  It needs to spend it.  Read this if you’d like an overview of ongoing budget issues.

Next School Committee Meeting: Thursday August 8, 2024, 6:30 pm (in person with public comment)

Next City Council Meeting: Thursday August 15, 2024

July 19, 2024

CITY COUNCIL – no meeting this week

SCHOOL COMMITTEE – no meeting this week.  The next meeting will be Wednesday, Juy 24 at 4:00pm.  THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ONE TO ATTEND IF YOU CAN.  The meeting will be virtual.  No public comment. This meeting will be a continuation of the June 26 school committee meeting that was cut short. Topics will include discussion on the budget and the superintendent’s staffing cut proposal. There will also be discussion of an open meeting law complaint against the school committee (this portion is in executive session)

July 12, 2024

July 11: CITY COUNCIL MEETING

  • Agenda items not directly school related. Interesting discussion (starting at 2:14:00) about a resolution put forth by Councilors Klemmer and Elkins to support Massachusetts legislation on clean heat.
  • Meeting Recording: link

SCHOOL COMMITTEE – no meeting this week

  • Next meeting July 24:  4:00pm – Agenda is not posted yet; meeting will likely continue the topics from June 26th meeting related to the superintendent’s staffing cut proposals.

July 5, 2024

July 2: CITY COUNCIL MEETING

  • Budget passed.  Equivalent to the 8% “First View” budget. Roughly 20 positions will be cut at the schools. Comments made by Councilors Rothenberg, Maiore, and Dubs. Their message: If approximately $400,000 is added to the budget, some critical student-facing positions could be saved.  

June 26: SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING

  • Member discussion about the NASE vote of No Confidence in the Superintendent. Majority of the discussion occurred in Executive Session. Committee issued a statement in support of the Superintendent, available at the following link Northampton Open Media – YouTube 
  • Discussion of the Superintendent’s recommendation for specific staffing cuts for next year.  Member Serafy-Cox proposed that some critical student-facing positions could be saved if approximately $400,000 was added to the budget. Member Agna required a hard stop at 7:00pm.  Member Foster Cannon motioned for a Vote to approve the Superintendent’s cuts.  Member Serafy-Cox added an amendment for further discussion and adjustments as necessary when the Committee reconvenes. Staffing cuts passed with the following vote:  
    • Yes Vote: Members Ghazey, Foster Cannon, Hennessey, Miller, LaBounty, Agana, Davis
    • No Vote:  Members Stein, Searafy-Cox, Mayor Sciarra