[10/19/09: Responses to Survey Questions 8 and 9 from Michael Flynn and Robert Schroeder corrected per update from Yes! Northampton.]We are reproducing this October 16 press release and survey report by permission of Yes! Northampton. We added some modest formatting to the survey report to improve readability. AT-LARGE SCHOOL COMMITTEE CANDIDATESAIM FOR KEEPING ALL ELEMENTARY […]
Bridge Street School
Video: October 14 Forum with At-Large City Council and School Committee Candidates
Here is a complete blip.tv video of the 10/14/09 Candidate Forum sponsored by the Ward 3 Neighborhood Association. First the candidates for the two At-Large School Committee seats spoke (0:00:00-0:52:44), followed by the candidates for the two At-Large City Council seats (0:52:45-1:50:36). This video is 1 hour 51 minutes long and was recorded by Lachlan […]
Gazette: “Forum hears pros, cons on school regionalization”
Today’s Gazette reports on a May 29 forum on school regionalization: …bigger school districts would save money by reducing administrative expenses and squeezing out inefficiencies, said state Sen. Stanley Rosenberg, D-Amherst… But a recent study shows that school districts with fewer than 2,000 students are more effective, said [Nicholas] Young, who is president-elect of the […]
Vote YES! Northampton Launches Website to Support $2 Million Proposition 2 1/2 Override
Vote YES! Northampton has launched a website at www.voteyesnorthampton.org: “Vote Yes! Northampton is a coalition of thousands of concerned citizens from all corners of Northampton, including seniors, parents, educators, elected leaders, public employees, and business owners who are dedicated to the idea that, to keep Northampton a strong and vibrant community now and into the […]
Michael Bardsley Declares Candidacy for Mayor: Opposes School Closings
The Valley Advocate reported yesterday that At-Large City Councilor Michael Bardsley has officially declared his intention to run for mayor. If elected, he said he plans to follow up on work done with the Ad-Hoc Best Practices Committee he had been a part of during the last year and conduct a thorough review of how […]
Video: Traffic Calming Informational Discussion, 2/26/09
Here is a complete Google video of a Traffic Calming Informational Discussion that took place at JFK Middle School on February 26. This discussion was organized by Northampton’s Laura Hanson, Assistant Civil Engineer, Department of Public Works, Engineering Division. The Northampton Traffic Calming Manual and related materials can be found on the Transportation and Parking […]
Video: School Committee Meeting of February 12; Presentation of Strategic Plan
Here is a complete Vimeo video of the School Committee meeting of February 12. The video is 2 hours and 46 minutes long and was recorded by Lachlan Ziegler. The Northampton Public Schools Strategic Plan (PDF, 192 KB) is presented and discussed during 0:32:40-1:37:37. Below are selections that relate to the possible closing of an […]
Gazette Column: “Keeping our schools small is worth a large effort”
Today’s Gazette includes a column from Greg Kerstetter (email), who teaches fifth grade at the R.K. Finn Ryan Road School in Northampton: Lesson Plan: Keeping our schools small is worth a large effort Here’s what the [Strategic Planning Commitee] could not agree on: whether to close an elementary school to save money… Members of the […]
February 4 and 12: Two Important Meetings about Northampton Schools
Today’s Gazette reports that the Northampton Education Action Team will host a public meeting on the budget crisis at J.F.K. Middle School on Wednesday, February 4, at 7:00pm. At the School Committee meeting of Thursday, February 12, the Strategic Planning Committee will present its final report. “That 25-member committee has spent the last several months […]
Video: School Committee Meeting of December 11; Regionalization Discussed
Here is a complete Google video of Northampton’s School Committee meeting of December 11. The meeting took place in the Community Room of JFK Middle School. This video is 2 hours and 33 minutes long, and was recorded by Lachlan Ziegler. Selected highlights: Report of the Elementary School Reporters: Presented by Members of Bridge Street […]