School Committee closes high school for June 9 vote

School Committee · Meeting of April 28, 2026

EASTHAMPTON — The School Committee voted to close Easthampton High School on June 9 for the override election. The 5-0 vote adds a high school class day on June 23. Superintendent Michelle Balch said the district faces a potential $500,000 reduction if the $6.9 million Proposition 2½ override passes and $2.75 million if it fails, both measured from the approved level-service budget.

Mayor Salem Derby said the news of the city's budget gap was "more weight than I could bear." Student representative Jess Atkins-Barber said she could not name a teacher whose loss would not affect "tons of kids." The committee also moved its June 9 meeting to June 11, forwarded Bonnie Atkins for the city's TNGDI Committee and appointed Sam Hunter to the Family Center Community Council, all by 5-0 votes.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Easthampton's community access TV: School Committee meeting, April 28, 2026
• The complete report: 850 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of April 28, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.