{"id":2571,"date":"2025-05-19T03:13:04","date_gmt":"2025-05-19T03:13:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/?p=2571"},"modified":"2025-07-11T13:47:21","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T13:47:21","slug":"fy26-school-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/es\/2025\/05\/19\/fy26-school-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"FY26 School Budget"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>The mayor\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/northamptonma.gov\/DocumentCenter\/View\/30931\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fiscal Year 2026 budget<\/a> is out, and once again, she is shortchanging the schools.<\/strong>  It\u2019s time to make our voices heard. Let the mayor and councilors know you support fully funded schools!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SOSLogo.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2222\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SOSLogo.png 1000w, https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SOSLogo-300x180.png 300w, https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SOSLogo-768x461.png 768w, https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/SOSLogo-18x12.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Join teachers and community members&nbsp;<\/strong>to support the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/es\/2025\/03\/30\/fy26-budget-overview\/\">Strong Budget<\/a> as ratified by the school committee. The mayor has chosen once again to ignore the <a href=\"https:\/\/northamptonma.gov\/AgendaCenter\/ViewFile\/Minutes\/_03272025-8397\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">recommendations<\/a> of school committee by producing an inadequate budget for the schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What You Need to Know&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For the third year in a row, the Mayor\u2019s proposed budget falls short of what our public schools \u2014 our kids \u2014 need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, the city brings in enough recurring revenue to fully fund education for ALL children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s the impact?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Students being denied IEP services<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Overcrowded classes: 30 kids in core subjects like English &amp; Spanish at the High School<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teachers paying out-of-pocket for curricular and other basic materials<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>&nbsp;It doesn\u2019t have to be this way. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>This is about choices. Priorities. Leadership.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">&nbsp;WHAT CAN YOU DO?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#Write-to-City-Council\">Contact the Mayor &amp; City Council<\/a>: tell them our kids deserve fully funded schools.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>&nbsp;Show up at the City Council and School Committee <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/es\/local-government\/calendar-of-meetings-and-events\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"1633\">meetings<\/a>.  Public comments matter.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Join us door knocking on Saturdays!  Help neighbors learn what\u2019s at stake.  Check <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/npsfundourschools\/\">Instagram<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/1129898878034077\">Facebook<\/a> for location and times.   <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>&nbsp;Our schools. Our kids. Our responsibility. Let\u2019s act!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Budget questions for the mayor from Support our Schools<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If schools are the \u201clargest priority,\u201d why is NPS the only city department to have suffered widespread staffing reductions over the past three years?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And, If the mayor disagrees with this assertion, can she provide the number of FTE staffing reductions in other city departments?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why does the mayor imply that the city would not be on solid financial ground if it increased school funding?<\/strong> The City has the highest possible bond ratings, has tens of millions of dollars in its general reserve accounts, and generates multi-million dollar operating surpluses every year. What other commitments has the city made that places it on the knife\u2019s edge of instability if another $655K were invested in NPS (which would achieve level services)?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If the city\u2019s financial situation is so uncertain, why was $15.7 million in FY26 general fund capital projects approved in January when state best practices advise that the following year\u2019s capital plan not be approved until June, after the general fund budget is known?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What evidence is there that a $5 million override in FY25 would be needed to fund the strong budget school budget, other than an unaudited spreadsheet that&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>1. underestimates the operating surplus that will be generated in FY25 by over $2.5 million?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;2. ignores over 75% of the funds available in general reserve accounts that can be used for any legal purpose?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;3. ignores that millions of dollars of recurring revenue is funneled into the capital improvement plan year\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Has the mayor produced an override scenario that would not tie up $4.5 million in medium or low priority capital projects in the same year she would ask for an override?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Has the mayor produced any alternative override scenario at all?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What does \u201ctotal available new revenue\u201d mean, and why is it not explained?<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Does this mean new growth plus the 2.5% increase in the property tax levy? Does it refer to the anticipated operating surplus? Both?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How can the mayor assert that revenue estimates for FY26 and beyond are \u201caggressive\u201d without showing our projected revenues for FY25? <\/strong>Several key revenue category estimates for FY26 look to be estimated at under 90% of projected FY25 revenue, which will only lead to more recurring money being misclassified as free cash.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What other growth in city departments is being constrained?<\/strong> What are examples of other city departments that should be growing?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why does the mayor cite the unprecedented nature of increased city contributions to the NPS budget without mentioning that the staffing reductions are also unprecedented?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why does the mayor not mention that until recently NPS educators were in the bottom 1% of the state for salary?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why does the mayor not mention that her predecessor oversaw a large increase to NPS\u2019s staffing needs with the implementation of the WINS program, but DID NOT correspondingly increase the city\u2019s contribution at that time, which forced NPS to drain its school choice fund?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Is this context omitted because it would change the denominator for the &nbsp; percentage calculations that she likes to cite as evidence of her support of NPS?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why does the mayor not also provide the context that the NPS overall budget will have only increased 19.1% since FY22?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The mayor\u2019s statement mentions responsibility frequently. What does the mayor believe her responsibility is to NPS?<\/strong>&nbsp; How does she judge whether she is meeting that responsibility? Does she believe it is not the mayor\u2019s responsibility, both as head of the city\u2019s executive branch and the chair of the School Committee, to offer solutions to the school funding issues caused by her predecessor (as noted above) other than cutting staff and programming?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why is tapping the Fiscal Stability Fund framed as burdensome to the city?<\/strong> Stabilization funds are replenished largely by recurring revenue that has been underestimated and expenses that have been overestimated. In other words, a portion of that money should have been budgeted for services in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How would the Mayor specifically describe \u201crobust collaboration\u201d? What structures, opportunities, and conditions have to be in place with what parties to ensure that \u201crobust collaboration\u201d? <\/strong>&nbsp;For example, in Northampton, most of the public communication between the public and elected officials takes place in \u201cone way\u201d channels that do not allow dialogue: public comment, writing to officials, council deliberation, mayoral statements and reports.&nbsp; How do you see this communication system offering opportunities for robust collaboration?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Twelve positions were eliminated for FY24, and 20 positions were eliminated for FY25. The Mayor, City Council, and School Committee recently described the schools in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gazettenet.com\/Council-discusses-possible-appropriations-for-school-59573811\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">state of \u201ccrisis,\u201d<\/a> and the Superintendent recently described the school budget as already \u201ccut to the bone.\u201d<\/strong> Since the Mayor\u2019s plan for the FY26 school budget proposal would require further reductions of positions through attrition and further cuts to student services, how will the Mayor address the inevitable heightened crisis that will occur in the 2025\/2026 school year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>School staffing cuts are used to balance the city budget. Have any Capital Improvement Projects been cut or delayed to help balance the city budget?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>According to the city\u2019s policies, the water\/sewer enterprise is a closed financial system and is funded solely by its rate collections<\/strong>. The city recently stated that it has collected millions of unplanned revenues from Coca Cola Bottling and continues to collect revenue as the company stays longer than originally communicated. Instead of earmarking $3.1M of ARPA money for water\/sewer upgrades, can the $3.1M ARPA money be used in a way that expands the fiscal stability fund by $3.1M? And can the water\/sewer Main Street upgrade be paid for by the water\/sewer enterprise, per the city\u2019s long standing closed system policies?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Regarding proposition 2 \u00bd property tax overrides, we were told last year that the final budget would require an immediate override.<\/strong> However, the Mayor miscalculated and <a href=\"https:\/\/thereminder.com\/local-news\/northampton-city-council-votes-to-postpone-override-vote-during-special-meeting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">cancelled that override<\/a>. Why should we believe the Mayor this year that an override would be required to fund the schools at the level recommended by the School Committee?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Fiscal Stability Plan was established under Mayor Narkewicz during a time of historically low inflation and interest rates. The paradigm has changed, and interest rates and inflation have increased significantly, which has put significant strain on the operating budget.<\/strong> Given this, is there any plan to bolster the Fiscal Stability Plan\u2019s Fiscal Stability Fund to better support the operating budget? For example, the current plan is to allocate 1\/12th of free cash to the Fiscal Stability Fund &#8211; can this be increased to a higher allocation such as 1\/6th or 1\/3rd?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If the Mayor is running the city responsibility, why has she driven us into two consecutive fiscal cliffs (FY25 and FY26) where \u201cbudget shortfalls\u201d have caused her to propose budgets that reduce school staffing and services?<\/strong> Did she miscalculate when she cancelled the property tax override last year?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Regarding alternative school options (charter schools and school choice), how can Northampton compete with other districts when it continues to reduce services year after year &#8211; while charter schools become more competitive<\/strong>? Do we expect a higher percentage of students to choose districts other than NPS, further straining the budget and creating a downward spiral?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How does Northampton plan to halt the downward spiral in its school systems <\/strong>&#8211; that is, staffing and services reductions that motivate students to choose districts other than NPS, which then strains the budget and causes further staffing and services reductions. Is the Mayor concerned about this?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The DPW Director recently told the City Council that it was fully operational and at full capacity for the major ice storm, and open\/unfilled positions did not affect services. <\/strong>Given that the DPW is able to operate at full capacity without these positions being filled, they are effectively not using a significant portion of their budget. Can the DPW\u2019s budget be reduced so that other department budgets can be increased (which would have a neutral effect on the overall city budget)?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Is the city able to use reserves other than the fiscal stability fund to support school operations?<\/strong> For example, can the undesignated fund or the general stability fund be used to support school operations?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s wrong with the mayor\u2019s FY26 school budget?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>After the cuts of 20+ positions last year, this year\u2019s budget doesn\u2019t maintain even last year\u2019s reduced level of services, resulting in even more cuts to our already bare bones staff in the schools. The mayor\u2019s budget means cuts to the gardens at the elementary school, clerical staff, teachers who won\u2019t be replaced after retirements, and cuts to transportation for unhoused children and those in foster care.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In March, city council voted for an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gazettenet.com\/City-Council-ok-s-less-than-half-of-600-000-59873249\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">emergency mid-year appropriation<\/a> to the schools. All city councilors voted for the appropriation and agreed the schools were in crisis. The mayor\u2019s current budget reduces staff even further, making the crisis even worse.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The mayor is once again ignoring the recommendation of the experts on school committee, the superintendent, and our teachers and staff. City council should be a check and balance to counter the Mayor\u2019s out-of-control <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/es\/2025\/03\/30\/fy26-budget-overview\/\">austerity budget<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"Write-to-City-Council\">Write to City Council<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Please write to City Council and ask them to do their job as a check and balance on the mayor by questioning her inadequate budget.  You can use the email template below as a start point.  Please write to all three email addresses so that all elected officials hear from community members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>mayor@northamptonma.gov<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>citycouncil@northamptonma.gov<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>northampton-school-committee@northampton-k12.us<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Email Template<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Subject:&nbsp;<\/strong>Why is the city turning its back on public education?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dear Mayor and City Council,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I am one of many people in Northampton who is extremely concerned about the inadequate FY26 school budget from the mayor. Despite the additional money recently \u201cfound\u201d and added, the school budget will still result in understaffing that hurts every child, in every grade, at every school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The question many of us are asking is \u201cwhy?\u201d<\/strong>&nbsp;Why can\u2019t our city, with its generous annual surpluses&nbsp;<em>and<\/em>&nbsp;its generous capital budget, be at all \u201cgenerous,\u201d or even&nbsp;<em>fair,&nbsp;<\/em>in its allocations to public education? <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve heard all the talk about \u201cone-time funds\u201d vs. \u201crecurring funds.\u201d We\u2019ve heard lots of percentages, none of which ever refer to education or student\u2019s needs. We&#8217;ve heard the appeals to \u201cguidance from DOR,\u201d and from \u201cour independent auditor,\u201d but don\u2019t think either is seriously recommending that we forego reading help to 3rd graders who need it, or deprive high school seniors of being able to take any classes at their own school, or worst of all, regularly violate IEPs and endanger children? And sadly, we have heard the mayor\u2019s absolute unwillingness to explore or consider any alternative budgeting practices that could provide additional revenue for schools without jeopardizing savings or triggering additional overrides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In response to the mayor\u2019s budget presentation at the May 21 City Council meeting, I\u2019m writing to ask you to take a close look at her priorities. Once again, the mayor is putting a budget forward that ignores the recommendation of the School Committee and forces more cuts to the schools.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please do what you can to support a budget that will begin to repair the damage from decades of underfunding by the city, which last year created a crisis that necessitated a mid-year appropriation for emergency funds for the schools. City Council voted unanimously for that mid-year appropriation, and all acknowledged that the schools were in crisis.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please do what you can to support a budget that provides long-term stability for the schools, instead of setting ourselves up for more stopgap emergency appropriations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Please work to fully fund the schools, repair the damage, and level up our services. Our children and our city deserve better than what the mayor is offering.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sincerely,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Name &amp; Northampton Ward (or name of your town\/city)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button has-custom-width wp-block-button__width-100\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-medium-font-size has-custom-font-size wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sec.state.ma.us\/WhereDoIVoteMA\/WhereDoIVote\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Find Your Ward<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">For more information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">SOS &#8211; Budget Posts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/es\/2025\/03\/30\/fy26-budget-overview\/\">Overview of the 3 Budget Options for FY26<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/es\/2025\/04\/27\/opt-in-facts\/\">City Council &#8220;Opt In&#8221; Facts<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/es\/2025\/02\/13\/support-our-schools-responds-to-mayor-sciarras-fy26-financial-presentation\/\">SOS Responds to Mayor Sciarra&#8217;s FY26 Budget Presentation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/es\/2025\/01\/16\/facts-need-context-budgets-need-values\/\">Facts need context.  Budgets need values.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">School Committee &#8211; FY26 Budget: Transcripts &amp; Video Recordings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>6\/2\/25: <a href=\"https:\/\/us06web.zoom.us\/rec\/play\/ued87RV8NhAc2uHPULj5DoCn0W8YSW5NNOQXA6O4SHmo0a-nOQir1h2Jgw7nD_gm191sXh4kK7lIvro6.3r1yUI7oc8HkSM5V\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Video Recording<\/a> &#8211; Budget &amp; Property Subcommittee<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>5\/27\/25 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5QMX_H3XKew\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Video Recording<\/a> &#8211; Special City Council &amp; Finance Committee FY26 Budget Hearing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>5\/5\/25: <a href=\"https:\/\/us06web.zoom.us\/rec\/play\/ouosg5LpOOrb5EtI28q7Mt3NpFx9ZTylvPw-ZlGKHrVZgVh7hwi4uUb4RFGg0mZqtqQlfFoWy6DiQyM.Ik_7GGAqB0jDJMS9?accessLevel=&amp;canPlayFromShare=true&amp;from=share_recording_detail&amp;continueMode=true&amp;componentName=rec-play&amp;originRequestUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fus06web.zoom.us%2Frec%2Fshare%2FAiOUiMRBDCBloaC3zUtv3Y16gM3HhjoUFEaP_n3l4UlGsuIWbYuVqTjDG9LqYIE2.ZInF8UdKJXDnIIKy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Video Recording<\/a> &#8211; Budget &amp; Property Subcommittee<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>4\/10\/25: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.northamptonma.gov\/AgendaCenter\/ViewFile\/Minutes\/_04102025-8431\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Meeting Minutes<\/a> &#8211; FY26 Budget Vote<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>3\/27\/25: <a href=\"https:\/\/northamptonma.gov\/AgendaCenter\/ViewFile\/Minutes\/_03272025-8397\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Meeting Minutes<\/a> &#8211; FY26 Budget<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>3\/24\/25: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.northamptonma.gov\/AgendaCenter\/ViewFile\/Minutes\/_03242025-8389\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Meeting Minutes<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/us06web.zoom.us\/rec\/play\/DCXEQ7pbp8QzNyKu3qcFMySKmnr7p2hkyu601n_4AMqx17jbVpT6WHvmhxskLQArx9-3Rj-_XLrXXegm.at3ZbPHuT1OJz9Ri?accessLevel=&amp;canPlayFromShare=true&amp;from=share_recording_detail&amp;continueMode=true&amp;componentName=rec-play&amp;originRequestUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fus06web.zoom.us%2Frec%2Fshare%2FxVdY_9U2kfiAvmcHJzRD8vg-SxNiyKHKGzu21pcE0agmgmqRvwF8K2u9r-M_cgdI.Sveik2-UdAuKpQIq\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Video Recording<\/a> &#8211; Budget &amp; Property Subcommittee with City Councilor Rachel Maiore<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recent News<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>5\/2\/25&nbsp;<em>Daily Hampshire Gazette<\/em>&nbsp;\u2013&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gazettenet.com\/Council-votes-down-measure-on-school-budget-60969690\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Northampton council nixes order that would have given it authority to increase school budget<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>5\/1\/25&nbsp;<em>The Shoestring<\/em>&nbsp;\u2013&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/theshoestring.org\/2025\/05\/01\/long-division-the-growing-battle-over-public-school-budgets-in-western-mass\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Long Division: The growing battle over public school budgets in Western Mass<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>5\/1\/25&nbsp;<em>Daily Hampshire Gazette<\/em>&nbsp;\u2013&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gazettenet.com\/Superintendent-says-no-staff-cuts-with-mayor-s-budget-60931234\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Northampton superintendent: No layoffs for schools next year, but service reductions coming<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The mayor\u2019s Fiscal Year 2026 budget is out, and once again, she is shortchanging the schools. It\u2019s time to make our voices heard. Let the mayor and councilors know you support fully funded schools! Join teachers and community members&nbsp;to support the Strong Budget as ratified by the school committee. The mayor has chosen once again [&hellip;]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2571","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2571"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2626,"href":"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2571\/revisions\/2626"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2571"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2571"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sosnorthampton.com\/es\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2571"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}