Easthampton High students head to national civics competition

EASTHAMPTON - There came a moment when Easthampton High School history teacher Kelley Brown knew something big was about to happen.

She was at a statewide civics competition last month where 10 of her students were competing.

Amherst College offers to keep funding campus preschool, with caveat

AMHERST - Amherst College has offered to continue funding the Little Red Schoolhouse if the preschool program expands its hours to better accommodate the needs of college faculty with children.

Easthampton Bear Fest organizers offer Cub Crafts Day during school vacation

EASTHAMPTON - The organizers of the city's Bear Fest are holding a special event for children during the upcoming school winter break. A Cub Crafts Day will be held Feb. 24 at Eastworks from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. featuring kid-friendly activities such as bear mask-making, sheet coloring and a collaborative Bear Fest quilt that will later be auctioned to support local arts education programs.

Amherst schools chief says more reserve funds needed

AMHERST - Superintendent Maria Geryk has recommended the regional schools spend an extra $133,441 from reserves next year because state aid is expected to be less than anticipated.

New board member brings student's perspective

AMHERST - The newest member of the Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee said at his first meeting Wednesday that starting classes the Thursday before Labor Day next fall might help students ease back into school.

His opinion had some credibility because he is a senior at Amherst Regional High School.

Amherst College president offers to continue support for preschool

AMHERST - Amherst College has offered to continue funding the Little Red Schoolhouse if the preschool program expands its hours to better accommodate the needs of college faculty with children.

City among first to roll out teacher evaluations based on student performance

NORTHAMPTON - Adopt, adapt or revise. Those are the choices facing the city's school leaders as they begin using a new statewide teacher evaluation system that for the first time links teacher performance ratings to student test scores. Northampton is among the federal "Race to the Top" districts that are required to have the system - which also applies to administrators - up and running by next fall. All of the state's public schools must implement the evaluation standards by the fall of 2013.