Williston and the Easthampton Community

In a time of extraordinary economic turmoil, The Williston Northampton School has maintained its commitment to supporting the Easthampton community in many meaningful ways. Williston’s students, faculty, staff, and administrators are honored to be a part of the Easthampton community and proud to be able to contribute to the collective well-being of the City. As a long-standing employer in the City, and as an educational and cultural institution, Williston makes every effort to be a responsible civic supporter of the City of Easthampton and the surrounding area. As part of this effort, the school strives to provide detailed information on the ways in which Williston lends support to the greater Easthampton community.

Like most non-profit organizations in these uncertain economic times, we have been very mindful of multiple budget pressures. Over the past several years, challenges from reduced endowment income as well as increasing salary costs and rising benefit expenses have presented considerable challenges to balancing the school’s budget. In spite of these difficulties, the school’s administration and Board of Trustees remain committed to providing financial assistance to local groups and to sharing the school’s facilities with local organizations that can benefit from their use.

For the 2008-2009 school year, Williston served the educational needs of 455 high school students (grades 9-12) and 86 middle school students (grades 7-8). The school provided jobs for 190 full-time and 60 part-time employees. With such an extensive operation, the economic impact on Easthampton and the surrounding area is significant. For example:

• In the 2008-09 fiscal year, The Williston Northampton School had a total payroll of approximately $10,063,523. Of that amount, 57% ($5,576,060) went to City of Easthampton residents.
• For the last fiscal year, Williston purchased nearly $500,000 in goods and services from businesses in the City of Easthampton.
• In 2008-09, 25 Williston day students lived in Easthampton. That group received financial aid awards totaling $564,000. Seven students from families that reside on the Williston campus avail themselves of the Easthampton school system.
  
• Payments were made of approximately $102,000 in water bills and sewer charges.
• Williston paid an estimated $4,540 in fees and permits for construction. Additionally, individual contractors hired by the school applied for permits from the city on the school’s behalf.
• Williston employees who reside on campus pay excise taxes to the City of Easthampton on approximately 83 vehicles.
• Over the years, The Williston Northampton School has made a concerted effort to bring groups to campus that will provide additional activity and commerce within the City of Easthampton. For instance, during the summer months, the school contracts with a number of athletic camps, theater groups, and academic programs, bringing approximately 2,500 campers, coaches, and parents to Easthampton.
• Families of students, Board of Trustees members, and other visitors to campus attending regular campus events bring money into the local economy through their patronage of local businesses.
• The Williston Northampton Children’s Center is a member of the Easthampton Early Childhood Council, a group of providers who share resources and provide services for children and families. Additionally, Williston’s Children Center currently enrolls a total of 46 children. Of those 46, 15 are from Easthampton.

The Williston Northampton School’s administration makes a concerted effort to stay in contact with local groups to assess community needs and contribute time, services, facilities, and funds when appropriate. Here is a listing of the various forms of support provided by Williston to the local community during 2008-09:

• For the last four years, Williston has aided the City in its support of the Emily Williston Library with annual contributions of $70,000.
• Williston donated thirty-five desks with an estimated value of $3,000 to the Calvary Baptist School in September 2009.
• Williston is proud of its continuing cooperative efforts in helping to establish the Easthampton Learning Foundation (ELF). In the past four years the school has contributed more than $17,000 to the foundation.
• Working with the city, Williston created a new public park on Railroad Street that features original artwork by local and national artists.
• Easthampton Parks & Recreation Department received a discount of $4,760 for 34 hours of ice time for public skating. The Easthampton Police Department received 19 hours of free ice time at an overall savings to the department of $3,800.
• The school has also made contributions to the following local groups:
  

- Easthampton City Arts
- The Easthampton Community Center
- The Easthampton Rotary and Lions Club
- The Easthampton Chamber of Commerce
- Easthampton Police Department
- Easthampton Fire Department
- The Hampshire Community United Way
- The Easthampton Toy Fund
- The Easthampton Rod & Gun Club for Children’s Fishing Derby
- The Easthampton Basketball Association
- The Easthampton High School Parents’ Council
- Easthampton High School Hockey Team
- Easthampton Youth Soccer
- Easthampton Citizen’s Scholarship
- Easthampton Little League
- Holiday Spirit Fund
- Easthampton Flag Fund

• Williston’s facilities, i.e., dining hall, meeting rooms, swimming pool, gymnasium, playing fields, track, tennis courts, and hockey rink, continue to be used by many local groups. In all instances, fees that would normally be charged were either waived or significantly reduced for local groups. The following is only a partial list of local groups that have used Williston’s facilities:
  

- Easthampton Public Schools
- Easthampton Historical Society
- Easthampton Basketball Association Suburban League
- Easthampton Youth Soccer
- Pioneer Valley Junior Soccer League
- Easthampton Little League
- Easthampton Park & Recreation Department
- Tri-County Baseball League
- Easthampton American Legion
- Easthampton Police Department
- Easthampton Fire Department
- Senior citizens groups
- Easthampton Congregational Church
- The Run for Tara
- Hampshire Sheriff’s Department
- The Red Cross for Annual Blood Drives
- Riverside Industries
- Local Brownie & Girl Scout Troops
- Valley CDC

• With the closing of the Whitebrook Middle School swimming pool, Williston has provided the school’s swimming pool for use by the high school and the Parks & Recreation Department so their swimming programs could continue.
• For the last 37 years the Kiwanis Club has used the school’s Galbraith Field for the large crowds that attend its annual fireworks display. According to the Kiwanis, this is the largest one-day event held in Hampshire County, and it continues to grow each year. This event generates revenue that is used to fund local scholarships, make contributions towards the purchase of new equipment for the Easthampton Fire Department, and enable the Kiwanis to be the largest contributor to the Easthampton Junior Miss Pageant.
• For the last eight years, Williston has offered the center campus quad as the destination and gathering place for the city’s annual Rag Shag Parade, an effort that also helps to promote safety and eliminate traffic congestion at the rotary in the city center.
• Throughout the year, the school provides free art gallery exhibits, writers’ workshops, and photography presentations to the public that draw visitors to campus and the local community.
• Williston employees serve on committees or volunteer their time for a variety of civic and charitable entities including the Easthampton School Committee, Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce, the Helping Hand Society, Easthampton Learning Foundation, Easthampton School Building Committee, Suburban Youth Basketball, Easthampton Youth Soccer, Easthampton Little League, and the Red Cross.
• Williston assists with plowing and policing all of the town roads running through the campus.
• Williston helps provide upkeep for the Manhan Rail Trail by mowing and cleaning a ¾-mile section.
• Williston’s Phillips Stevens Chapel was the site of one of three mayoral forums held prior to the election.

The Williston Northampton School is always striving to be a responsible, integral community member of the City of Easthampton. Hopefully this summary offers insight into the extensive nature of contributions that the school provides to the organizations and the economy of the City of Easthampton.