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By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Following a performance evaluation that gave her mostly proficient ratings in meeting various standards set by the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and her own goals, Amherst-Pelham Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman is receiving a revised contract that will boost her annual salary above $180,000.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A revised leadership structure for the Amherst-Pelham school district, known as an executive director model, is being put in place this week as part of an effort to streamline the central office administration.

By MICHAEL DECHIARA

In his June 22 column on battery energy storage systems (BESS), Joe Curtatone seeks to establish his community credibility, claiming that he understands local needs since he was mayor of Somerville [“Renewable energy and battery storage is the affordable choice for families. How do we get it right?”]. Unfortunately, the author misses the mark because he doesn’t know western Massachusetts communities and what underlies our concerns about the siting of energy storage systems. Further, some of his claims are inaccurate and insulting to those of us working for the best future for our communities.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — An acting officer in charge is overseeing Shutesbury Police through the end of June, with the current police chief on administrative leave.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A union representing teachers, paraprofessionals and clerical staff in the Amherst-Pelham public schools is renewing a call for action, first delivered to the Amherst Regional School Committee more than a year ago, that includes a 10-point plan for addressing racism against Black employees.

By MATTEON PANGALLO

At Shutesbury’s 290th annual Town Meeting on May 31, our small Massachusetts town approved a $7.7 million budget for FY26. Payments-in-lieu-of-taxes for state-owned land, including the one-third of our town taken by the state for the Quabbin watershed area, cover less than 5% of that budget. Residential property taxes will pay for 73%, which is a much higher portion than is covered by property taxpayers in most towns.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A provision for possible full-time remote work for the Amherst, Pelham and Amherst-Pelham Regional schools’ finance director, part of a proposed three-year employment contract that includes a $137,700 base salary beginning July 1, is among concerns elected members of the committees are raising with the deal.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Juan A. Rodriguez, Amherst Regional Middle School’s interim principal, will become the school’s permanent principal starting July 1.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — Police Chief Kristin Burgess has been placed on administrative leave, according to a message sent to the community by the Select Board on Friday.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — Even though located at the edge of the Quabbin Reservoir that provides drinking water for millions of residents in and around Boston, Shutesbury has no municipal water supply and has spent almost $700,000 to address contamination from PFAS, or forever chemicals, in private wells.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — Prioritizing purchase of zero-emission vehicles, supporting municipal decarbonization by 2050 and opting into the state’s specialized energy code, while enhancing the existing safe community bylaw and adopting a town spending plan for the fiscal year beginning July 1, are among articles voters will decide at annual Town Meeting Saturday.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — MCAS English language arts assessments showing seven in 10 Amherst Regional High School 10th graders are meeting or exceeding expectations and a more than 50% drop in behavioral referrals at Pelham Elementary School are among signs of progress being made under the district’s state-mandated Student Opportunity Act Plan.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools’ $37.08 million budget for fiscal year 2026, recommended by the Amherst Regional School Committee, won final approval Monday, with the Amherst Town Council unanimously agreeing to the town’s $19.74 million assessment.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — Police Chief Kristin Burgess is taking a leave of absence from her position overseeing the department, according to an email sent by the Select Board to residents Thursday night.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Falling ceiling tiles, locked bathrooms with broken stalls and a class schedule that regularly drops a guided academic study and advisory period are among concerns Amherst Regional Middle School student leaders are bringing to the Regional School Committee.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Each year, in the months leading up to the development and release of the budget for the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools, representatives from the four member communities gather together at the invitation of school officials to discuss school funding at one or more “four-town” meetings.

SHUTESBURY — Incumbent Select Board member Melissa I. Makepeace-O’Neil earned a fourth, three-year term in Saturday’s town election, turning back a challenge from write-in candidate Tom Siefert, according to unofficial results provided by the town clerk’s office.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

LEVERETT — A steep increase in what Leverett will pay into the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools’ fiscal year 2026 budget is being supported by the Select Board, even with concerns from board members about the process used to arrive at the town’s assessment.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — In a change from customary practice, Shutesbury will hold its town election and annual Town Meeting on separate days, a little over a month apart.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Professional mold remediation in the music and instrument storage rooms during April vacation, along with recent roof repairs and replacement of HVAC air filters, are among steps being taken to improve air quality at the Amherst Regional Middle School.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Near annual challenges in putting together budgets for the Amherst and Amherst-Pelham Regional schools that meet the financial guidelines set by the Amherst Town Council is leading to the concept of forming a joint town and school task force, which would be responsible for examining educational needs over a five- to 10-year period.