Frontier school board backs $8.7 million budget

DEERFIELD - The Frontier Regional School Committee approved a tentative $8.7 million dollar budget that would restore a full-time art and drama teaching position and maintain the same curriculum and level of services as this year.

Northampton task force pushes ambitious project against bullying

SOUTH HADLEY - A South Hadley task force is working to make schools safer and healthier learning environments, using member suggestions and the anti-bullying bill on Beacon Hill as guideposts.

Northampton schools forum weighs busing, start times

NORTHAMPTON - A forum for parents of Northampton students and the community will take on two controversial topics Monday: bus fees and school starting and ending times.

School Lunch Menus

Amherst-Pelham (Elementary)

MONDAY: No school, teacher workshop day

TUESDAY: Tacos, soft or hard shell, cheese, rice, corn

WEDNESDAY: Baked mac and cheese, roll, green beans

THURSDAY: Baked chicken nuggets, vegetable, baked french fries

FRIDAY: Whole wheat classic cheese pizza, tossed salad

Belchertown

Apples and kumquats: Comparing Northampton and Amherst schools is not so cut-and-dried

AMHERST - As this education-centered town prepares to vote on a tax override March 23, some are questioning why it spends more per pupil on public schools than other nearby communities. The Amherst elementary schools spent $15,846 per pupil and the regional (secondary) schools spent $16,909 per pupil in fiscal 2009, according to the state's Web site; meanwhile, the Northampton public schools spent $11,699 and the state average was $13,062. And there is much difference of opinion about the reliability and relevance of these numbers.
--A by-the-numbers comparison
--Report urges Amherst middle school improvement
--Candidates speak on Amherst schools

A by-the-numbers comparison

Here are 10 reasons why Amherst's per-pupil spending is so much higher than in Northampton, according to school administrators:

Report urges Amherst middle school improvement

AMHERST - The Regional Middle School does not exhibit many of the characteristics of highly effective schools, according to a consultant who did an on-site evaluation from October to January.