NORTHAMPTON — The Collaborative for Educational Services, a Northampton non-profit that provides professional educational services, consulting and programs for students with special needs, is cutting 10 positions and reducing the hours of 10 others, citing a change in the overall educational landscape.
According to CES Executive Director Todd Gazda, the layoffs will not affect services at HEC Academy and Mount Tom Academy, the two schools for students with social-emotional challenges or learning disabilities. Rather, the layoffs center around the elimination of its licensure preparation program, providing an alternative means to obtain a teaching license for those enrolled.
Gazda said that the elimination of the program was due to “changes in the licensure landscape and a substantial decline in enrollment as less people enter the teaching profession.”
“It’s not a reflection of the program itself. The program is exceptional and has done an incredible job of meeting the needs of the teacher candidates in it,” Gazda elaborated in an interview with the Gazette. “We’ve seen a dramatic decline in general of the number of people entering the teacher profession, so we’re not the only licensure program that has had to close.”
Another factor leading to the decision is the loss of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER), federal education funding meant to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, also contributed to the need for layoffs, Gazda said.
The loss of ESSER funds was also attributed to the need to reduce positions in the Northampton Public School district for the current fiscal year budget.
“We find ourselves in an environment of increasing demands for all of our programs and services, while experiencing significant operating budget shortfalls,” Gazda said. “Like many other organizations, at this time we are carefully examining and reassessing each of the many programs and services that CES offers, to ensure that our organization remains resilient, sustainable, and aligned with our mission.”
On CES’s website, the page for licensing and credentialing has been updated to reflect the change, saying the program will cease following the spring 2025 semester. It also states that those currently enrolled will be able to receive assistance to transition to a comparable program.
Gazda also emphasized that the reduction of the positions was not a reflection of the quality of the work by those staff members.
“Reductions in staff are always painful and never easy, and we want to make clear that any and all employees affected by these decisions have demonstrated excellence, quality, dedication and an unflagging passion for their work,” Gazda said. “We regret losing them to our organization, are committed to supporting their transitions, and aware that changes like this affect our entire community.”
In addition to its licensing program and academies, CES also offers consulting relating to educational programs such as early childhood education, English language learners, and educational technology.
The organization has been in existence since 1974, and has had its licensing program for 23 years before deciding to eliminate it this year.
According to Gazda, there are 617 total employees, with around half of them working part-time positions.
Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.
