2008 Woodie Awards
Smith's gift bails out Noho
By Adam Coulter, Collegian Staff
Issue date: 9/2/08 Section: News
In response to reports that the city of Northampton's public schools will encounter a considerable budget shortfall this next fiscal year, Smith College recently announced a one-time gift of $100,000 to provide time and support for a strategic planning process that aspires to improve the schools.
The announcement was made through a letter written by Smith College President Carol T. Christ and was addressed to Northampton Mayor Mary Clare Higgins. The correspondence also notes similar instances when it helped out in the community.
"From the beginning, Smith College's founders envisioned a college integrally linked to the life of the city," said Christ. The offering of free college-level courses to be taken at Smith is one such program. "They've done a good job partnering with the high school; allowing classes to be taken at the college has been a home run for the kids," said Mayor Mary Clare Higgins.
In the May 28 letter, Christ wrote that by providing the gift, a pressing social need for Northampton is being addressed.
But the chief purpose for the money is the development of a rigorous planning process geared toward the strengthening of the public schools.
Those involved include a parent and a teacher from each school, as well as six community members and the mayor.
"We'll look at what our facilities are going to need and also do we have the right number of them for the number of kids," she added.
The Northampton Mayor's office has released the FY2009 Budget, and according to the accompanying online Mayor's message, the city will receive $600,000 fewer in school aid this year than in 2003. Northampton Public Schools are proposing a reduction in teachers, aids and custodians, the message reads.
"The state has really put us behind the eight-ball by cutting school aid," said Higgins.
But amidst the deluge of negatives, the one-time gift from Smith College has meant the salaries of three teachers.
"This will primarily help to reduce class size at the elementary level," said Mayor Higgins.
This coincides well with the expressed wishes of Christ and Smith College. In giving the city a gift of this size, Christ writes in her letter, "We affirm that supporting K-12 education is your highest priority now and for the near future."
Adam Coulter can be reached at apcoulte@student.umass.edu.
The announcement was made through a letter written by Smith College President Carol T. Christ and was addressed to Northampton Mayor Mary Clare Higgins. The correspondence also notes similar instances when it helped out in the community.
"From the beginning, Smith College's founders envisioned a college integrally linked to the life of the city," said Christ. The offering of free college-level courses to be taken at Smith is one such program. "They've done a good job partnering with the high school; allowing classes to be taken at the college has been a home run for the kids," said Mayor Mary Clare Higgins.
In the May 28 letter, Christ wrote that by providing the gift, a pressing social need for Northampton is being addressed.
But the chief purpose for the money is the development of a rigorous planning process geared toward the strengthening of the public schools.
Those involved include a parent and a teacher from each school, as well as six community members and the mayor.
"We'll look at what our facilities are going to need and also do we have the right number of them for the number of kids," she added.
The Northampton Mayor's office has released the FY2009 Budget, and according to the accompanying online Mayor's message, the city will receive $600,000 fewer in school aid this year than in 2003. Northampton Public Schools are proposing a reduction in teachers, aids and custodians, the message reads.
"The state has really put us behind the eight-ball by cutting school aid," said Higgins.
But amidst the deluge of negatives, the one-time gift from Smith College has meant the salaries of three teachers.
"This will primarily help to reduce class size at the elementary level," said Mayor Higgins.
This coincides well with the expressed wishes of Christ and Smith College. In giving the city a gift of this size, Christ writes in her letter, "We affirm that supporting K-12 education is your highest priority now and for the near future."
Adam Coulter can be reached at apcoulte@student.umass.edu.
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