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AMA-20260604

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JUNE 4, 2026 | FREE

Balch: 35 positions will be cut without override By Trent Levakis

tlevakis@thereminder.com

EDITION EASTHAMPTON

CPA Committee approves $135,000 for dog park The Easthampton Dog Park is one step closer to reality.

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NORTHAMPTON

City receives $4M grant for NHS geothermal project POSTAL CUSTOMER

Northampton’s fight against climate change and global warming just received a vital boost.

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Superintendent Michelle Balch presented a more detailed look at the potential impacts tied to the outcome of the override vote set for June 9 during the School Committee’s May 26 meeting. Screenshot by Trent Levakis.

See OVERRIDE on page 8

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talking about is true impact, and this is an unprecedented time for our community, and we are committed to continuing to provide a safe and supportive educational experience for all of our students. There are no easy options here. We have decisions that we have to make in both options,” said Balch of the two budget scenarios. A failed override would also include cuts across the board for the district, including the elimination of the late bus for after-school, a specialized threeyear coaching and mentoring

ECRWSS

and activities. The School Committee approved a level-service school budget of $24.9 million in March, and now, with the updated outlook on the city’s overall finances, the district has had to reevaluate its budget through two different scenarios tied to the upcoming override vote. The district would still be looking at cuts of just over $922,000 if the override passes. If it fails, however, those cuts would triple, which means $2.77 million would need to be removed. “We know that behind these line items and behind these programs that we’re going to be

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reductions involving librarians, special education, nursing services, and speech and language supports. This applies to and explains the .5 figure when discussing the reduction or elimination of those positions, according to Balch. A failed override would also eliminate middle and high school athletics, and the district would no longer be able to fund stipends for the advisors of extracurricular activities and clubs, including programs such as Drama Club, Band and Chorus, National Honor Society, Ski Club, Yearbook, Student Council, We the People and additional student clubs

POSTAL CUSTOMER

EASTHAMPTON — Easthampton Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Balch presented a more detailed outlook on the two scenarios the district faces pending the results of the upcoming $6.9 million Proposition 2½ override vote on June 9. During the School Committee’s May 26 meeting, Balch shared that if the override were to fail, 24 total staffing positons would be eliminated or reduced at Mountain View School, and another 11 would be slashed at Easthampton High School. Specifically for Mountain View School, this would include the loss of three full-day Pre-K positions, six positions from classroom sections in kindergarten and grades 2, 3 and 5, two special education teachers, two interventionalists, an adjustment counselor, a school psychologist, two registered nurses, two librarians, three speech language pathologists and one position each from band and music. Easthampton High School would see the loss or reduction of 1.5 ELA positions, a math position, a health position, a technology and engineering position, the equivalent of half a world language position, an early childhood position, two special education positions, a librarian and one Bridge for Resilient Youth in Transition programming position. Some staffing changes would convert several licensed educator positions into paraprofessionals or assistant roles, including

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