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MAY 21, 2026 | FREE
Balch offers two override vote scenarios IN THIS EDITION By Trent Levakis
tlevakis@thereminder.com
EASTHAMPTON
Council prepares Town Lodging property for sale The City Council voted to declare the Town Lodging property surplus property and finalized a request for proposals for potential buyers.
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Easthampton Public Schools Superintendent Michelle Balch breaks down the two budget scenarios the district faces depending on the results of the upcoming June 9 special election override vote.
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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SPRINGFIELD, MA PERMIT NO. 142
See OVERRIDE on page 2
The License Commission will hold a lottery for Northampton’s remaining on-premise all-alcohol liquor license.
ECRWSS
status that their contract will not be renewed next year. Professional teaching status is a state qualification for educators who have worked for at least three consecutive years in the district. Balch shared that there are about 40 educators in the district without this status. The notification was set to be sent on May 15, and if the override is to pass, Balch said many of these teachers who can be retained would then be notified of “reasonable assurance” that their contract will be renewed. A reasonable assurance letter is a formal notice from a school indicating that a teacher or school employee is expected to return to work in the same or similar capacity for the next academic term, affecting eligibility for unemployment benefits during breaks.
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“Literally anything we can cut that saves a salary or saves a position or saves an academic program has been cut. When we get to $2.77 million [if the override is to fail], we have no other choice, now we’re talking people, now we’re talking personnel,” said Scott. “I just want the public to understand, literally every pen and pencil and subscription, everything has been reviewed.” Balch said the district must have plans in place if the override is to fail. She shared three different options that described ways the administration could potentially cut staff. By the meeting’s end, it was clear that Balch and the district will pursue Option A, which she called the most “legally and contractually” clear to those tied to the override vote. This option will notify educators who do not qualify for professional teaching
Commission to host liquor license lottery POSTAL CUSTOMER
Photo credit: Easthampton Media
NORTHAMPTON
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SPRINGFIELD, MA PERMIT NO. 142
EASTHAMPTON — Superintendent Michelle Balch presented the School Committee with two scenarios the district faces pending the results of the upcoming $6.9 million Proposition 2½ override vote on June 9. Balch, who made the presentation during the committee’s May 12 meeting, noted that if the override were to fail, it could cost approximately 40 Easthampton Public School teachers and paraeducators their jobs. “Oftentimes in education, we talk about data and accountability, and we talk about things and say behind every number is a student, and as we head into tonight’s budget conversation, I am very well aware that when we’re talking about numbers, behind those numbers are students, staff, their lives. They’re who we are as a community, and I know that, so when we read off numbers, and we read off the line items, I need everybody to know that we are all thinking about the people behind those numbers and the implications,” said Balch. The School Committee approved a level-service school budget of $24.9 million in March. During the May 12 discussion, Balch broke down the two scenarios tied to the result of the override vote. The district would still be looking at cuts of about $922,000 if the override passes. If it fails, however, those cuts would triple, and $2.77 million would need to be removed. Balch shared that personnel is the biggest bucket, and if the
override vote fails, then $2.5 million would be cut in personnel expenses. She said that with enrollment numbers, including special education students who are still shifting, the specific number of educators that need to be cut is still unconfirmed at this point under both scenarios. “We have to plan and prepare for both scenarios,” said Balch. “Whether the override passes or not, we still will touch staffing regardless, because we just don’t have any other numbers. We are trimming everywhere possible. We are making cuts anywhere and everywhere possible before they hit the classroom, but there’s just not a lot to cut.” School Committee Chair Laura Scott said that the Budget Task Force assembled under the direction of Mayor Salem Derby opted not to ask taxpayers for the full amount. Instead, the task force is asking for a $6.9 million override, the minimum that best protects level service across all city departments. Cuts would then come on a drastic level for many departments if the override fails, including slashes to staff, programs and extracurriculars. The School Committee is set to meet again on May 26 to discuss more specific details regarding numbers, programs, stipends and all other things that will be on the table in the event of an unsuccessful override vote. Scott explained that the committee and district have already cut as much as they can to keep their initially approved budget at level-services, and they explored all options to avoid reductions in staff and for legally required services.