The mayor’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget is out, and once again, she is shortchanging the schools. On May 21, she will present her budget to city council. It’s time to make our voices heard. Let the mayor and councilors know you support fully funded schools! Join teachers and community members for a rally outside city hall on…

Mayor Sciarra’s FY26 Budget Information 1.  Fiscal stability plan remains the foundation SOS Response: The fiscal stability plan currently allocates only 1/12th (8%) of surplus money to the operating budget and 11/12ths (92%) to maintenance and special capital projects.  This 8% allocation to the fiscal stability fund is inadequate and has not supported level or…

Where would the money for schools come from?  Here are some possibilities that total at least $1.6M. And this is all “recurring revenue.” FY26 Potential areas for savings: 1. Personnel reserve ($800K savings) – FY26 budget of $900K is $800K higher than FY25. Move back to $100K 2. Cash capital ($275K savings) – there is…

May 10, 2025 – Support Our Schools (SOS) stands with the Northampton Association of School Employees (NASE) in their recently announced work-to-rule action starting on Monday, May 12. This action is in response to the inadequate cost of living raise offered to teachers by the city in recent contract negotiations. We strongly support their demand…

Frequently asked questions about the “Opt In” April 17, 2025 – SOS is asking the Northampton City Council to “opt in,” meaning to vote to accept into its charter a longstanding state law provision that allows the city council to increase the school budget beyond the amount provided by the mayor.  What do you mean…

May 10, 2025 Update: The Mayor’s FY26 current budget proposal is between Budget #1, an “austerity budget” and Budget #2 – “status quo services.” The current proposed budget is austerity with some status quo. March 3, 2025 – SOS explains the three budget proposals presented by the Superintendent at the March 13, 2025 School Committee…

Video Recording: Northampton Open Media 3-5-25 City Council Click here to read more public commentary given throughout the last year. “I looked at 20 schools around this area, 20 high schools around this area. I could not – could not – find a high school with a higher student-to-staff ratio than Northampton High School. Could not. “ Video Time:…

Support our Schools (SOS) celebrates victory in the city’s mid-year appropriation of almost $300,000 to schools. Since November, SOS has worked on a “Restore the Jobs” campaign for additional funds to address the underfunding crisis in public schools. March 6, 2025 Northampton, MA –  Support Our Schools (SOS) claimed success of its “Restore the Jobs,”…

Video Recording: Northampton Open Media 3-6-25 City Council Click here to read more public commentary given throughout the last year. “Paying now allows us to foster a supportive environment for the kids, the teachers, and the community. Paying later will come at a higher cost: a slow gutting of our kids, our teachers, our community, a distrust of…

The Northampton City Council met to discuss and vote on the 2024-2025 school budget on June 20, 2024. A meeting recording is available at the following YouTube Link: Northampton City Council 6/20/24 City Council met again on July 2, 2024 for an additional appropriation to the school budget.  The following are Councilor statements from the…