Updates from Public Meetings

 Town Council Meeting – Monday 4/28 There was a lengthy discussion of two separate proposals to form committees/working groups related to the long-term fiscal stability of the school districts. One was submitted by Councilor Ana Devlin Gauthier and the other by Council President Lynn Griesemer and Councilor Cathy Schoen. Discussion starts around the one hour mark of the video. Here are some of quick takeaways:  We already have two bodies responsible for discussion and coordination of budget needs – and they are not being well used by the Town Council. The Council should try to use these existing avenues first before creating a whole new body.  Four Towns meetings are opportunities for leadership from Amherst, Shutesbury, Pelham and Leverett along with leadership for the Regional Schools to discuss budget needs of the Regional Schools as well as the resources available in the four towns. The Amherst Town Council has...

What’s next and Thank you! Thank you so much to everyone who came out on 4/13/25 to the SOS/LWV Community Conversation on School Funding – we had some great energy and lots of ideas for how to move forward and will have more to share on that soon.  Save the Date – Monday May 12th 6:30pm will be the Town of Amherst Public Hearing on the FY26 Budget We wanted to send out an update on where we are right now with the school budgets and what comes next. The School budget requests have been made. The Elementary Schools are asking for a 6% increase over last year which would require $539,408 more than the Town of Amherst has said it would like to give. The Regional Schools are asking for a 4.81% increase, which would require 152,136 more than the Town of Amherst has said it would like to give. The Town of Amherst’s Financial Guidelines suggest a 4% increase for all sectors of town (schools, library, municipal services). The Region is asking for 4.81% and the Elementary...

Reminder that tomorrow (Sunday April 13th), we will be holding our Community Conversation on School Funding in conjunction with the Amherst League of Women Voters. 2-4pm at Crocker Farm. Please enter via Shays Street Entrance (see attached map for parking location). Over the past year, we have been told “NO” a lot No – The schools can’t have more money No – The Town can’t change anything about its budgeting process No – You can’t say that you feel Councilors don’t care about our kids because that’s “uncivil” No – You can’t say that education should be prioritized because that’s pitting one need against another No – You can’t have more than two minutes to make a public comment On Sunday, we hope to move past some of these “NOs,” to talk about why we bump up against so much resistance, and how we can move forward. Join us! Bring a friend! Bring your kids – we will have kids...

Update on School budgets At the 4/10/25 Town Council meeting, after a lot of convoluted and confusing discussion, the Council took three votes relevant to the schools’ budgets. Video here. Details below but it seems like there is a fairly broad consensus that the Town Councilors want to give a 4.81% increase to the Regional Schools (this is the same number the Regional School Committee voted) and 5% to the Elementary Schools (this is less than the 6% increase that the Amherst School Committee voted). All of this, though, is just a recommendation and the Town Manager ultimately can decide what numbers to include in his budget, which is due May 1st. The Town Manager is claiming that allocating this money to the schools would be a hardship for his own budget, but presented no details.  What happened at Town Council? First vote – The Town Council voted 7-6 against a motion to amend Ana Devlin Gauthier’s proposal to say that the FY26 Financial Guidelines should be changed to...

What: Town Council Meeting When:  Monday April 7th, 6:30 PMWhere/How: In person at Town Hall or via ZoomAnd/or email your Town CouncilorsWhat to ask: Change the budget guidelines to direct the Town Manager to include the amount requested by the schools in the FY26 budget and vote yes to the Regional Schools budget as passed by the School Committee. These budgets restore the most essential positions and still require deep cuts – they are a fraction of what our schools need and the Town can afford it.  On Monday April 7th, Town Council will continue its discussion of Councilor Ana Devlin Gauthier’s proposal to increase the percentage for the schools for FY26 by amending the budget guidelines. As far as the Elementary School budget goes, unless the Council amends the guidelines, the Town Manager can give the schools a lower budget amount than requested, and the Council can’t increase it. So, this is important. Please see the awesome attached graphic Geneva made to illustrate...

Another quick way to advocate for state funding for schools – now There are two more state hearings coming up, and our legislators need to hear that public school funding is a critical concern. Please consider submitting public comment for both (you can use the same email). April 3rd, 12 p.m. – Hearing on how to allocate the $1.4 million FY24 Millionaire’s surtax surplus. April 8th, 11 a.m. – This is a hearing on the FY26 budget and is designed for the public to attend and testify on any budget related issue, including education. This hearing is in Boston, and you are welcome to attend in person or virtually if you would also like to give public comment that way. What You Can Do: Write an email urging our legislators to support the proposals to reform education funding, including the Rural Aid Bill, an increase to special education circuit breaker, and an increase in transportation reimbursements. Push them to change the charter funding model. Let them know how devastating...

Amherst council decision forces regional school district back to drawing board on next year’s budget Amherst council decision forces regional school district back to drawing board on next year’s budget https://www.gazettenet.com/Amherst-Town-Council-rejects-assessment-adjustment-for-regional-schools-budget-possibly-sending-spending-plan-back-to-committee-60237758

CRITICAL ACTION – Show up for our schools Monday 3/24 @ 6pm Monday’s Town Council Meeting is a critical time to show up for our schools! SOS Amherst is rallying on Monday at 6:00 pm at Town Hall – and heading to the Town Council meeting immediately after – Join us!    Rally Monday March 24th @ 6pm in front of Town Hall – We will make noise and greet Town Councilors as they enter the building for the Town Council Meeting (see attached flyer) Town Council Meeting Monday March 24th @ 6:30pm – Join In Person if you can. If not, join via Zoom. Can’t do that? Send written comment.  Both the Amherst (Elementary) and the Regional (ARMS & ARHS) School Committees will be asking for more funds from the Town of Amherst than Amherst would like to allocate. The Regional School Committee has voted a budget that restores $470,958 and 7-8 positions (it still eliminates 11-12 positions and $812,126). The...

Order your SOS Amherst Yard Sign here.

Middle School Roof Crisis! Read & sign the petition here (by Friday March 21). More info is here: https://www.arpsparents.com/arms-roof-crisis/ Petición Crisis del Techo Escuela Secundaria aquí. ARMS student petition is here!