School Committee Backs Hiring Talks With Da Silva

School Committee · Meeting of May 20, 2026

Northampton School Committee voted to authorize contract talks with its lone finalist for business administrator. The committee voted 6-0 to let the superintendent negotiate with Anne-Marie Da Silva, who currently manages more than 30 grants totaling about $20 million, after four other finalists withdrew from the search. Member Alena Bartoli won a separate 4-2 vote to speak at the City Council's May 27 budget hearing, with Tiffany Jewell and Robbie Saner Sullivan voting no because, Jewell said, "it's unclear to me what's going to happen." Business Administrator Bobby told members Jackson Street Elementary School has no portable air conditioners planned despite teacher complaints of 80-degree classrooms, and that roughly $114,000 remains in the district's Special Education Stabilization Fund for fiscal 2027.

Members also heard that Chapter 70 state aid now covers only about 15 to 16 percent of the budget.

In the full story:

• The Full Story
• Why It Matters
• Key Motions & Votes
• Source
• Northampton's community access TV: School Committee meeting, May 20, 2026
• The complete report: 762 words

Source: the School Committee meeting of May 20, 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.