Amherst redistricting decided tonight; protest planned

AMHERST - The Amherst School Committee, scheduled to vote tonight on a plan for elementary redistricting, will consider two maps endorsed by a group studying the sensitive issue.

Off the Beat: Smith Voke students to prepare Halloween dinner

NORTHAMPTON - You never know what might happen when you put creative young people with active imaginations in charge of a menu.

Absentee numbers surge at Amherst middle school Friday

AMHERST - At the Regional Middle School, the number of students absent due to flu-like illnesses increased to 123 Friday.

On Thursday, 108 students were absent, up from 90 on Wednesday.

But the middle school was the only one in Amherst seeing a significant upswing of absenteeism, said Debbie Westmoreland, the superintendent's administrative assistant.

Shutesbury ponders split from longtime elementary district

SHUTESBURY - Some bones of contention between Shutesbury and Union 28 have the town wondering if it should stay in the school district or move on to greener educational pastures.

At a meeting Thursday night in the elementary school gymnasium, school and town officials joined a group of about 15 Shutesbury residents to debate the future of education in the town.

Union 28's founding documents nowhere to be found

SHUTESBURY - Union 28 is an old school district. So old, in fact, that no one can locate the district agreement binding Erving, Leverett, New Salem, Shutesbury and Wendell in the supervisory union.

As Shutesbury recently began exploring the possibility of leaving Union 28, officials discovered that the actual agreement was nowhere to be found.

NHS students again solicit for new sports booster club

NORTHAMPTON - Today, student-athletes at Northampton High School will again go door-to-door to enlist members in a new booster club.

Last Saturday, in their first outing, 96 participating students raised $6,700 by selling $30 memberships in the new Northampton Athletic Booster Club, according to a club member.

School Lunch Menus

Amherst-Pelham (Elementary)

MONDAY: Hamburger, cheeseburger or veggie burger, whole wheat bun, butternut squash, fruit cup

TUESDAY: Baked mac and cheese, roll, garden greens, fruit choice

WEDNESDAY: Meatball grinder, roll, green beans, potato puffs, fresh fruit/fruit cup

THURSDAY: Soft shell chicken tacos, steamed brown rice, carrot sticks, fresh banana