Letter: Schools Committee Rejects Notion That Amherst’s Most Vulnerable Students Should Be the Most Impacted by Budget Cuts

The following letter was sent to the Amherst Town Council on April 6, 2025.

I am writing in support of the FY 27 budget recently passed by Amherst School Committee for the elementary schools. This budget is a 5.87% increase over the FY26 Budget. This year, like the past uncountable number of years, there have been significant cuts proposed to student-facing staff.  The School Committee rejected this notion that the most vulnerable students should be the most impacted by cuts, and further reiterated that computers are inadequate replacements to teach our children. 

Some highlights of this budget over the one proposed by the superintendent:

• It retains the 4.5 Specials Teaching positions that were initially proposed to be cut.  While originally concerptualized as a cost-saving from consolidation, specials teachers made the important point that much of their prep work centers around incorporating curriculum to be inclusive for all learners. Having double the number of students with less prep time would guarantee that many learners with specialized needs and plans would be neglected.  (Also, I believe, as the daughter of two art historians, that art, music, library, technology and PE are essential parts of education).
  
• It retains the 2 Math Coach and 0.5 Interventionist positions that were initially proposed to be cut. From my understanding, this was planned as a cut based on assessments through the iReady program. However, having small group instruction in areas marked for improvement is a successful strategy, and one that cannot be replicated by a screen.  I question the accuracy of iPad based learning, and would be highly suspicious of an attempt to replace teachers with machines.
  
• It eliminates 1% in spending in the Central Office budget

Please, support a budget that will support our elementary students. 

Allegra Clark

Allegra Clark is a resident of Amherst’s District 2 and co-chair of the town’s Community Safety and Social Justice Committee