Pelham Rallies in Support of Rural Schools
Rural Schools Have Heart. In Pelham, the message from the community at a March 13 meeting was clear, Pelham Elementary is full of heart and funding our school must include stronger support from the state. Photo: Rachel Figurasmith
As part of Rural Schools Week of Action, the Pelham Elementary Parent Teacher Organization hosted a community advocacy event on March 13 in the Pelham Elementary School gym. The meeting included a presentation by Massachusetts Association of School Committees representative Tracy Novick on advocacy for beginners. State Senator Jo Comerford, Pelham Elementary parents, grandparents, students, staff, and long-time town residents gathered to learn about strategies for effective community advocacy to secure increased state funding for rural schools including Pelham Elementary. Attendees also learned how to take action to support the Rural School Aid Bill now before the Massachusetts Legislature (H517/S314).
During the week of March 9-13, across the Commonwealth, educators, students, school administrators, municipal officials, and community members joined together to send an SOS to Beacon Hill and the Governor, calling attention to the ongoing plight of underfunded rural and declining enrollment schools.
The goal, according to the organization Rural Schools Advocacy in Massachusetts was to “open the hearts and minds of state decision makers so that they increase funding for rural schools and other critical education line items for schools with declining enrollments (via the Fair Share supplemental bill and FY27 budget) and pass legislation to launch a foundation budget review commission.”
Local actions were held in Pelham, Leverett, and Shutesbury.
Read More:
Rural Schools Week of Actions Shows Some Muscle (Greenfield Recorder)
With Ongoing Funding Dispairity Rural Towns Send SOS to MA Lawmakers, Healey (NEPM)
We Cant Tax the Bears and Squirrels. Shutesbury Advocates for Rural State Aid (Daily Hampshire Gazette)
Leverett Residents Rally for School Aid During Statewide Rural Action Week (Amherst Indy)
