On March 3, please vote yes on Northampton’s override. Our vote on this matter impacts children the most. Our children and their schools will be the hardest hit because our schools make up the largest component of the city’s budget.
If the override does not pass, the school budget will have to be cut by $592,000 in the first year. Most of the cuts will come from eliminating staff positions. Then there will be even more cuts in the second year.
Our local schools simply cannot deal with budget cuts right now. Educators today are facing new, heart-wrenching challenges in the classroom. Over the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide rates among teens, preteens, and even grade school children (over 50% increase, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health).
The mental health crisis among young children and teens requires more, not less, trained staff in schools. It is the most vulnerable children who will suffer the most if we don’t pass the override. Kids don’t get to vote, but you do.
Please vote on March 3, and please vote yes for the override for Northampton.
Julia Riseman
Northampton