Amendment seeks relief for regional schools

AMHERST - An amendment designed to relieve some pressure on regional school districts struggling beneath the weight of cuts to state transportation aid passed the state Senate Tuesday night, although questions remained over how those districts would make up for this fiscal year's $18 million cut in transportation funding.

On eve of Smokeout, Easthampton classes offered wake-up call

EASTHAMPTON - With all the anti-smoking campaigns undertaken over the years, you'd think the facts about how dangerous smoking is would have reached their intended targets: young people.

Officials see alienation in ARHS suspensions

AMHERST - Students from African-American and Latino backgrounds have been suspended at higher percentages at Amherst Regional High School than their percentages in the school population, Principal Mark Jackson announced Tuesday.

Education Week marked in Amherst with celebrity visits

AMHERST - Superintendent Alberto Rodriguez will visit all five elementary schools Tuesday, and on Thursday Select Board Chairwoman Stephanie O'Keeffe will be at Mark's Meadow Elementary School for the first time since she was a student there in 1980.

Northampton union agrees: No pay raises for school employees

NORTHAMPTON - A 92-member union for clerks, custodians and cafeteria workers in the school department has accepted a zero pay increase in the one-year contracts ratified Thursday by the School Committee, among other cost-saving measures to the district.

Amherst eyes fewer bus stops

AMHERST - The School Committee may save money on its new bus contract by reducing the number of stops and requiring students to walk up to a quarter mile to reach them.

School Lunch Menu

Amherst-Pelham (Elementary)

MONDAY: Meatball grinder on a whole wheat roll, potato puffs, fresh fruit, fruit cup

TUESDAY: Crispy baked chicken patty, whole wheat bun, corn, fresh fruit, fruit cup

WEDNESDAY: Nachos, crumpled mexi beef over crisp nachos, fresh celery sticks, fresh fruit, pears