School Committee OKs $137,560 for FY26 deficit

School Committee · Meeting of July 21, 2026

Easthampton School Committee approved $137,560 in School Choice funds toward a $577,616.16 FY26 deficit. Director of Business Services Julia Saari-Franks said the remaining $440,056.16 came from Circuit Breaker funds, and that utilities, special education transportation and tuition drove the gap. The 5-0-1 vote had Eric Guyette abstaining.

Members also voted 6-0 to accept an $80,000 state genocide education grant. Superintendent Michelle Balch presented evaluation evidence, including 99 percent of families registered on ParentSquare and a draft three-year district strategy. The committee heard an overview of a revised wellness policy, the first update since 2013, and took no vote.

Chair Laura Scott said the evaluation should be shared with the public in September.

In the full story:

• Opening and consent agenda
• Superintendent's evaluation evidence
• District Wellness Policy
• FY26 close-out and business update
• Grants, summer food and personnel
• Committee updates
• Executive session
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 1,925 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of July 21, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

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