“They continue to experience fallout from over a year without consistent in-person schooling, both emotionally and academically. . . Our children’s collective wellness is the foundation of their future and our community’s future.” Read Sarah Buttenwieser’s Letter to the Editor here:https://www.gazettenet.com/Letter-to-the-editor-55127683 May 15, 2024

“Mindless, grinding cuts, year after year, are as suicidal as overspending . . . Yes, ‘budget shortfalls.’ Yes, ‘sunsetting pandemic funds.’ Yes, inflation . . . we can either muster the vision and tenacity and stomach to plan for it — with innovative new public-investment funds, with creative and surgical approaches to tax policy, with…

“Creating the programs and learning environments that ensure all students can grow and thrive takes time, money and staff. Slashing staff and services as students return to routines disrupted by the pandemic is a recipe for diminishing the school experience for entire classrooms — or even entire schools.” Read Andrea Egitto’s Guest Column here:https://www.gazettenet.com/Guest-columnist-Egitto-55341389 May…

“This is the time of year when teachers plan for the future, collaborating and reflecting to improve our students’ experience. How can you have these conversations when the phrase ‘next year’ flings salt at an open wound?” Read Jenna Idenward’s Letter to the Editor here:https://www.gazettenet.com/Letter-to-the-editor-55281721 May 30, 2024

“Their pleas for our city to maintain our school’s current services come from a desire to do the right thing for our students. It’s hard to imagine power or greed or any other ulterior motive driving school staff to spend their free time advocating for equitable services in our public schools.” Read Yvette Bernecker and…

“In a city where there is much clutching of pearls about racial and economic injustice, I’m flabbergasted that our city officials would put public education in jeopardy, thereby reinforcing all of the inequities they so adamantly denounce.” Read Haley Pearl’s Letter to the Editor here:https://www.gazettenet.com/Letter-to-the-editor-55441776 June 5, 2024

“Kids have so much drama and things to deal and worry about, in life and adding this extra thing to put on their shoulders is not right. Us kids will try to the best of our ability to fix this, but we don’t deserve this, we deserve a way less stressful life.” Read June Bedell’s…

“Northampton politicians made choices years ago to fund investments in education by using one-time funds, repeatedly. Now, they do not want to do this anymore, even though they still can. These politicians have also decided the people who will pay for this change in budgeting strategy will be the newly unemployed teachers and support staff,…

“The main reason I chose ‘progressive’ Northampton over other neighboring towns was due the reputation of its excellent public schools. Public schools are one of the remaining, significant hopes to save society. By blending children from diverse economic, racial and social backgrounds with each other, we can prevent ‘othering,’ racism and a culture of hate.”…

“Even though councilors and constituents who have tirelessly combed through the budget have found that money. It’s now even clear to me, a non-math person: The $2 million needed to fill the gap is there. But the mayor and most councilors won’t agree to use it.” Read Valerie Reiss’s Letter to the Editor here:https://www.gazettenet.com/Letter-to-the-editor-55652039 June…