On Oct. 30, Smith College faculty, staff, and Fort Hill parents received an email from Smith College President Sarah Willie-LeBreton stating that the college now plans to keep Fort Hill CECE open until at least the summer of 2029.
I am writing to emphasize that this delay in closing the school is merely a pit stop on the road to our ultimate goal: keeping Fort Hill open and operating indefinitely.
Northampton needs Fort Hill, and Fort Hill needs Northampton to advocate for it and rally behind it to ensure it remains open for the long haul. Fort Hill provides vital access to childcare not only for Smith College families but also for families throughout the broader community.
Personally, I have one child at Fort Hill and another in the Northampton Public School system. I grew up in Northampton, and after relocating to San Diego, California, in early adulthood, I came running back seven years later with the specific intention of raising my children here.
I love this city.
How can Smith College, with access to its $2-plus billion endowment and some of the most brilliant and creative minds on its faculty and staff, not find a way to keep this school open? This simply does not add up. Fort Hill should be expanded, not abandoned.
Thank you for your support. Please continue to stay updated on ways you can advance our efforts to protect the long-term future of Fort Hill by signing up for our email list at saveforthill.com or following us on Instagram @saveforthill. Save Fort Hill, forever.
Kiah Crowley
Northampton