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AMHERST — An industrial heat pump described as among the first of its kind in the United States will be installed at the Central Heating Plant at the University of Massachusetts using a $7.35 million state grant awarded this week. The award announced Thursday as part of $23 million in grants will support 45% of […]

AMHERST — A new fund to support current Hampshire College students and those who are transferring to other colleges and universities is being established by community members affiliated with the college. The Hampshire Student Pathway Fund was recently created, with a goal of collecting $250,000, that will provide direct immediate transitional support to currently enrolled […]

AMHERST — An advanced optical tweezers system, which will allow University of Massachusetts scientists to measure and visualize the tiny forces that power living cells, is coming to the Institute for Applied Life Sciences building next year, as part of more than $2.1 million in grants awarded by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. With $1.63 […]

NORTHAMPTON — The University of Massachusetts can move forward with filling an assistant history professor position after a Hampshire Superior Court judge turned down a preliminary injunction sought by a lecturer who contends his promotion was denied due to his pro-Palestinian views and being falsely accused of antisemitism. Judge David M. Hodge in late June […]

Deerfield Academy transitions to a full boarding school, eliminating day students. New dorm construction and financial aid initiatives discussed.

AMHERST — Even as Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman will be leaving her position at the end of June 2027, two of the three school committees issued evaluations this week stating that her work needs improvement. In performance reviews finalized Tuesday, both the Amherst-Pelham Regional and Amherst school committees composite scores gave Herman’s work “needs improvement,” […]

AMHERST — An end-of-year event at Amherst Regional Middle School is drawing criticism after students were directed to a counselor whom some LGBTQIA+ students were prohibited from contacting because of no-contact orders stemming from an earlier Title IX case. Critics say the event sent a mixed message during Pride Month, publicly celebrating LGBTQIA+ students while […]

HADLEY — State education officials are requiring the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School to demonstrate stronger oversight by its board of trustees, replacing three conditions the school had already satisfied with a new governance requirement. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted 7-3 on June 23 to remove the three conditions it imposed […]

AMHERST — Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman will step down from her leadership of the Amherst, Pelham, and Amherst Regional schools when her three-year contract ends on June 30, 2027. In a message sent on Friday, Herman notified students, families, staff and the community that the previous day she informed the Amherst, Amherst-Pelham Regional and Union […]

AMHERST — Chalk messages written on the sidewalks that circle Crocker Farm School convey the sentiments of many students: they will truly miss Derek Shea, their outgoing principal. “Mr. Shea will always have a place in our hearts,” reads one of the phrases written in various colors, with another reading, “You’re the man, Mr. Shea.” […]

Frontier Regional School students tackle climate change with innovative solutions for local flooding, earning recognition at the Massachusetts Envirothon.

LEVERETT — A new playground with three slides, several ramps and a variety of stairs, poles and bars, joined by a series of sensory panels, a communication board and a buddy bench, opened at Leverett Elementary School this week. Just days before summer vacation begins, students got the opportunity on Wednesday to begin playing on […]