AMHERST — A continued gap in the performance between racial and ethnic subgroups in the Amherst elementary schools, as shown in recently released MCAS test scores, is raising concern for members of the Amherst School Committee and school administrators.

Results presented to the committee at an Oct. 15 meeting show that Black and Hispanic students register lower scores than than their Asian, white and multiethnic peers at the three elementary schools.

Committee member Irv Rhodes said the scores show a crisis for minority students, and the community needs to understand “this is not OK.”

“The differences, the inequalities, persist across all grades from elementary school through middle school and high school, for those who are African American or Hispanic,” Rhodes said. “It’s an incredible kind of wake-up call for this school district, because our students — low income, minority, Hispanic, Black — are just not getting what they should be getting, they are not achieving at the levels that should be achieving at.”

“It is a crisis, it’s very disturbing,” said Committee Chairwoman Sarah Marshall.

Tonya McIntyre, the district’s strategic equity, inclusivity and instructional leadership coach, said that overall the percentage of students meeting and exceeding MCAS expectations went up from 50% to 52% for English language arts, from 42% to 49% for math and from 41% to 57% for science.

But the performance gaps underlying those overall numbers are significant: More than half of multiethnic, white and Asian students meet and exceed expectations in English language arts, math and science, while less than 36% of Black and Hispanic students hit that performance target.

Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman said she is taking notice. “Education is not equitable across our subgroups,” Herman said.

“What we’re seeing is that the instructional model and materials that are currently in place, even though there are students supports there, we’re going to have to delve deeper to see if what we have supports all,” Herman said.

Cuppa Joe

Town Manager Paul Bockelman will be joined by Finance Director Melissa Zawadzki for the next Cuppa Joe on Nov. 8 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at The Works Cafe, 48 North Pleasant St., to chat about the fiscal year 2026 municipal budget, revenue and expenditure projections, and potential fiscal challenges.

People are invited to drop by to offer comments and ask questions at the event.

Banner drop

The Amherst Young Feminist Party is holding its fourth annual banner drop in downtown Northampton on Saturday, with a focus on importance of birth control access and bodily autonomy as the U.S. Supreme Court deals with cases centered on mifepristone and emergency abortion.

From noon to 2 p.m. on the steps of First Churches of Northampton, 129 Main St., those gathered will condemn a revived lawsuit by the attorney generals of Missouri, Idaho and Kansas to roll back approval of mifepristone, the first of two drugs used in medication abortions. In addition, the group is concerned that people under 18 may have their human rights denied by not being able to access mifepristone.

Several area organizations and speakers are expected at the event, including state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, D-Northampton.

Election Day

Amherst voters voting Tuesday, on Election Day, will go to various polling places throughout town to cast ballots, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. All eligible voters who haven’t yet voted early in person, by mail or absentee can vote.

Following are the locations to vote:

Precinct 1-A, North Amherst Library, 8 Montague Road; Precinct 1-B, Immanuel Lutheran Church, 867 North Pleasant St.; Precincts 2-A, 3-A, 4-A and 4-B, Amherst-Pelham Regional High School, 21 Mattoon St; Precinct 2-B, Fort River School, 70 South East St.; Precinct 3-B, Crocker Farm School, 280 West St.; Precinct 5-A, Bangs Community Center, 70 Boltwood Walk; and Precinct 5-B, Munson Memorial Library, 1046 South East St.

Diwali proclamation

The Town Council recently adopted a proclamation recognizing the religious, historical and cultural significance of the Hindu festival of Diwali, “and its message of tolerance, compassion, and the victory of good over evil, which resonates with the American spirit.”

Celebrated on Nov. 1, the proclamation expresses deepest respect and best wishes for South Asians and all Americans in the community who celebrate the festival of Diwali.

The proclamation also extends an invitation from Pioneer Valley Indian Association to join cultural performances and dinner on Nov. 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, 98 North Maple St., Hadley.

Musical performances

On Saturday at 7 p.m. at First Church Amherst, 165 Main St., the Song & Story Swap will feature Black Door 74. For more information, contact Paul Kaplan at 413-687-5002.

Then, Nov. 7 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Jones Library’s Woodbury Room, University of Massachusetts musicians will put on a solo and chamber performance.

The free concert is part of a new performance series offering students the opportunity to play off-campus for community members and each other.

For more information, contact Janet Ryan, the library’s head of programming and outreach, at 413-259-3223.

Meetings

MONDAY: Town Council, and Budget Coordinating Group joint meeting, 6 p.m., Town Room, Town Hall; Cultural Council, 6 p.m.; Historical Commission, 7 p.m.

TUESDAY: Land Management Subcommittee, noon; Housing Trust Development Subcommittee, 4:30 p.m.