Increase to private school tuitions would cost Easthampton thousands

Date: 11/15/2022

EASTHAMPTON – Easthampton Schools are hoping that outreach to legislators will help alleviate an expected 14 percent increase to private school tuitions.

According to Superintendent Allison LeClair, this 2023 increase is seven times what districts normally see. It was communicated through a letter from the state’s Operational Services Division, which sets tuition prices for approved private special education programs, according to its page on Mass.gov. Public schools pay a portion of tuitions for students from their community that attend private schools.

LeClair said that according to the state office, this increase is due to inflation. Based on the number of Easthampton students in the private schools, she estimates the budgetary impact would be approximately $174,000.

“Without additional funding, we will need to reallocate existing funds and cut back on programming at the schools,” said LeClair at the committee’s virtual meeting on Nov. 8. “It’s a big hit.”

Committee Member Ben Hersey asked if there was any relief in sight, and LeClair told the committee that the state’s superintendent association is meeting with the governor. Chairperson Cynthia Kwiecinski said it was important for the schools to have a voice.

“This is something that could really hurt us across the state,” Kwiecinski said.

Schools watch for rise in COVID-19 cases

With the winter around the corner, it’s expected that COVID-19 cases will increase. In a report posted to the city’s web site by Dr. Megan Harvey, an epidemiologist and committee member, the county has moved down into the low-risk category, going by standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But with booster shot percentages on the low side, this could make any case increase in the months to come difficult to handle.

At the meeting, Harvey said it was concerning that the CDC has clear standards for when cases rise to a dangerous level and this isn’t reflected in those of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).

“The CDC recommends that if Hampshire County goes to the high red zone, we implement universal indoor masking,” Harvey said. “We’ve been in the yellow zone a couple of times.”

Harvey doesn’t anticipate the county going into the red, but wanted to see if the city’s COVID-19 Committee should begin meeting. Kwiecinski said that a proactive approach is preferred.

“It’s really important that we be prepared and actually start to think about those things,” she said. “I’d rather have the worst-case scenario and not have to use it.”

LeClair said there is a degree of responsibility on the part of the parents, and they should keep children home if sick. She added that numbers at the schools are very low – Mountain View School has seen a few cases out of 1,200 students and faculty. LeClair added that many have already gotten COVID-19 and the community has a high vaccination rate.

“Families are at a different place than they were before the [coronavirus] pandemic,” said LeClair.

Language programs under revision

Director of Curriculum Julie Anne Levin informed the committee that efforts are underway to expand the district’s language programs, both world languages and English Language Learners. It was planned a few years ago, but the coronavirus pandemic put this on hold. Levin said studies have shown that students who learn a second language do better in other subjects.

“It’s not just about language,” Levin said, “It’s about building those neuropathways so these students can access them in their learning.”

Levin has been working with Committee Member Laurie Garcia, meeting with officials in Amherst and Holyoke to review language programs and see if they can be replicated in Easthampton. Funding sources to pay for improvements to the district’s programs are also being reviewed. Levin said this is a slow rollout, and the goal is to start one class and hope in expands. She described this as a “15-year process,” and an investment in future generations.

“We’re ready to keep digging in,” said Levin. “We want to learn from the people around us who are doing these programs.”