Northampton public speakers, union and school committee spar over staff reductions after mayor’s budget proposal

Northampton — The Northampton School Committee heard more than an hour of public comment May 8 from teachers, parents and union leaders alarmed by proposed budget reductions that school administrators say will eliminate 4.25 full-time equivalent positions and reduce services across the district.

The most repeated concern centered on the elimination of the Northampton High School technology integration specialist. "This news was shocking," Michelle Eastman told the committee, identifying herself as the long‑time tech integration specialist who was involuntarily transferred after the district revised next year’s staffing plan. "Next year will be a challenging year for the Northampton High School community without a tech integration specialist," she said.

Those remarks were echoed by colleagues and union leaders who warned of immediate effects on classroom technology support, assistive technology services tied to students’ IEPs, and teacher capacity. Kate Zach, the district’s digital literacy and computer science director, said the position blends direct student instruction with teacher support and…