Todd Diacon, deputy chancellor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst for the past 18 months, is leaving to take over as senior vice president and provost at Kent State University in Ohio. He will assume his new position June 1.

Diacon said he in looking forward to the job. "I feel like it's a university on the move," Diacon said of Kent State.

University of Massachusetts Police are seeking five more people whose behavior is considered to have instigated the disruptive gatherings on campus after the Super Bowl Feb. 5.

A crime alert on the Police Department's website asks for assistance from the public in identifying the suspects, who police say were captured in six photographs that are posted there.

Four candidates are running for two seats on the Amherst School Committee in the April 3 town election.

The candidates for School Committee are incumbent Irvin Rhodes, 70, of Pondview Drive; Michael Aronson, 52, of Old Farm Road; Lawrence O'Brien, 48, of Harris Street; and Amilcar Shabazz, 51, of Chapel Road.

The Amherst elementary school budget has been reduced by $305,696 because administrators now anticipate no increase in state aid next year.

But there is still a shortfall of $218,200 that the School Committee hopes to make up with money from its decision to allow parents who live in other towns to send their children to Amherst schools.

There are two proposed calendars for the next school year, one with school starting on Sept. 4 and the other on Aug. 30, which is before the Labor Day weekend.

The teachers' union is considering both proposals. The problem with starting school after Labor Day is that it would push the last day late into June, said Debbie Westmoreland, the superintendent's assistant.

A housing code enforcement officer whose duties will include trying to solve problems at rental properties and promote the town manager's safe and healthy neighborhoods initiative will start work this month.

Jon Thompson of Shutesbury was recently hired for the new position following interviews with a four-member search committee that recommended him to Town Manager John Musante.

A bill allowing all capped municipal landfills to serve as sites for solar projects, even if previous state capping grants had restricted their future use to recreational purposes, passed the state's House of Representatives unanimously last week.

Even with snow in short supply, an estimated 1,000 people attended the WinterFest 2012 at the Cherry Hill Golf Course on Saturday where the rare chance to sled was one of the day's highlights.

PELHAM - The Planning Board is proposing a three-year moratorium on new development in the areas affected by two sewer line extensions planned near the Amherst town line.

Hearing to be held April 23

By BEN STORROW Staff Writer

northampton - The proposed new $3.5 million Shutesbury library will now have its day in court.

Even as the economy tries to regain its footing, the Jones Inc. endowment is in a stronger position than it has been in several years.

CAUCUS SET: Amherst Democrats will hold a caucus Saturday to elect delegates and alternates to the June 2 State Democratic Convention at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.

The caucus, which will select 21 delegates and four alternates, begins at 10 a.m. in the Crocker Farm School cafeteria.

All Amherst Democrats registered as of Dec. 31, 2011 are welcome.

Proactive patrolling in North Amherst on the night of Feb. 10 and cold weather the next night are being credited by police with reducing the number of noise complaints and major incidents during the weekend.

Break-ins to an Amherst home and two vehicles on the night of Feb. 8 are being investigated by police.

The first incident was reported at 8:45 p.m. when a Woodside Avenue resident told police a television set was stolen from his apartment.

Detective Richard MacLean said there were no signs of forced entry to the home.

Amherst Police

# Byung W. Kim, 24, of Greenleaves Drive, Hadley, was arrested Feb. 11 at 1:20 a.m. on North Pleasant Street on charges of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, negligent operation of a motor vehicle to endanger and speeding, police said.

Amherst Police Calls

MONDAY, FEB. 6

SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY

# 10 p.m. - A homeless man loitering on the porch of Iota Gamma Upsilon on North Pleasant Street was sent on his way.

DISTURBANCES

# 12:26 p.m. - Police kept the peace between sisters arguing at Mill Valley Estates.

LARCENY

If the directors of the Little Red Schoolhouse program can come up with a plan to offer a full-day early childhood education program, the pre-school, based on the Amherst College campus for 75 years, may continue to receive financial support from the college.

The decision to bypass the head of Afro-American studies at the University of Massachusetts in favor of a high school student to briefly fill a vacated seat on the Amherst School Committees has met with some sharp criticism.

UMass vows swift discipline

By BEN STORROW and SCOTT MERZBACH Staff Writers

University of Massachusetts officials are promising prompt disciplinary action against the 13 students arrested during the on-campus disturbance following Sunday's Super Bowl.

A man using a bathroom at a downtown bar early on the morning of Feb. 6 was arrested following a confrontation with another patron, police said.