Gazette: “Superintendent: Hold off on school closing”

Today’s Gazette reports on how Northampton school officials have moved away from considering the closure of an elementary school in the coming year:

Responding to public outcry over the proposal, school officials are now urging the exploration of other options to close an anticipated budget shortfall of more than $800,000…

“I think the superintendent was responding to the community’s outcry that they want to be involved in the process,” [Subcommittee Chairwoman Katherine] Foote Newman said.

The superintendent has recommended forming a committee charged with taking a close look at the advantages and disadvantages of closing one of the schools and consolidating students and staff in the remaining three…

See also:

Northampton Education Action Team Online: “School Closing Off the Table!”
…NEAT’s “Preliminary School Closure Analysis” (PDF)…points out the faulty premises on which the option to close an elementary school have been based…

The superintendent proposed the establishment of a large committee to study solutions to the budget crisis during the next year. NEAT expects to be very active with that study…

“Back to School for Planners”; “Why Johnny Can’t Walk to School”; “The Cost Effectiveness of Small Schools”

Gazette: “Group sends letter to fight school closing”

Letter to Gazette: “Don’t rush into a decision on school closure”
After a two-year process that involved significant public input, the city has adopted a Sustainability Plan [link]
that promotes infill development in the urban core and alternative
forms of transportation. This is the first real test of the city’s
commitment to this plan…

April 12: Garden Clean Up/Community Rally for Bridge Street School

Closing Bridge Street School Contradicts Smart Growth Goals