School Committee Approves New Superintendent Contract

School Committee · Meeting of May 14, 2026

Northampton's School Committee voted 8-1 Thursday to approve incoming superintendent Anna Maria Azarloza's three-year contract, with Member Michael Stein dissenting. Vice Chair Alena Bartoli presided because Chair Gina-Louise Sciarra, also Northampton's mayor, was absent. Public comment ran nearly ninety minutes and centered on special education, with Ward 6 resident Gaurav Jashnani saying "our director is failing our disabled children" and calling for Director of Student Services Matt Holloway's removal.

Members voted 7-2 to add $40,000 to the district's contract with law firm Sullivan, Hayes and Quinn, and rejected a $750 special-education stipend proposal on a 4-4 tie. The committee also sent a contested field trip cancellation policy back to its Rules and Policy Subcommittee after nurse Karen Schiaffel called it "an equity issue."

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Northampton's community access TV: School Committee meeting, May 14, 2026
• The complete report: 958 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of May 14, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript. It was corrected where it differed.