Committee accepts FY27 budget, 6.45 percent increase

School Committee · Meeting of June 11, 2026

Northampton School Committee accepted a fiscal 2027 budget appropriation and heard sobering cost estimates for cooling overheated schools. Members voted 9-0 to accept the city's FY27 appropriation, a 6.45 percent increase over fiscal 2026, after Member Anat Weisenfreund questioned why the vote covered "the full level services operating budget of $52 million." Climate Action and Project Administration Director Ben Weil said cooling half of Leeds Elementary cost about $900,000 after grants, versus a nearly $2.5 million original estimate, while JFK Middle School and Ryan Road Elementary could need $15 million to $20 million with no funding source yet identified. The committee also voted 5-3 to have the incoming superintendent adapt a Holyoke Public Schools heat procedure, adopted a new restraint and seclusion policy unanimously, and directed staff to renegotiate a YMCA facilities MOA down from three years to one.

Public comment ran nearly the full 90 minutes, with speakers urging a stricter "bell-to-bell" cell phone ban before expected state legislation takes effect.

In the full story:

• Student Advisory Council Annual Survey
• Retiree Recognition and Student Representative Report
• NEF Small Grants and Endowment Grants
• Recommended Actions: IT Transfer and Bridge Street Donation
• Minutes Approval and the May 14 MOA Dispute
• Public Comment: Cell Phones, Immigration Enforcement and Building Conditions
• Nutrition Services Presentation
• Climate Action and Long-Term Heat Mitigation Plan
• Extreme Heat Procedure Motion
• FY27 Budget Appropriation and Line-Item Planning
• Restraint and Seclusion Policy
• Ignite After-School Program End Time
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 4,572 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of June 11, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

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