Northampton mayor pursues alternatives to preserve childcare after Smith College closure

NORTHAMPTON — Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra said she is working with Smith College and the public schools to find ways to preserve childcare options after the college announced the closure of its Center for Early Childhood Education at Fort Hill, set for June 4, 2027.

The Fort Hill center, which opened in 1926 and serves about 80 children in seven classrooms, sent families notice of the closure last week. Anne-Marie Szmyt, the college's vice president for human resources, said the decision followed a review of the college's childcare benefits and operations and was not driven by financial concerns. Sciarra said in a letter to the community that the closure has sparked concern among teachers and parents worried about finding alternative childcare in a region already facing a shortage.

In her letter released Wednesday, Sciarra called the news "heartbreaking" and described childcare, particularly for infants and toddlers, as among "the greatest challenges facing working families in Northampton and across the region." She noted that the center has served Northampton for 100 years and said losing it during a time of rising costs and economic uncertainty is especially painful for families.

Sciarra said she met in person with Smith College officials last week to discuss options for keeping the childcare spots available. She wrote that community organizations have expressed interest in exploring a new operating arrangement or partnership to preserve the center's capacity. "Financial assistance alone cannot address the shortage of available childcare," Sciarra said, noting that preserving existing capacity is equally important.

Sciarra, a mother and Smith College alumna, also said she has been communicating with Superintendent Annie Azarloza about expanding the school district's preschool programming to full-day, five-day-a-week offerings at all four elementary schools. In response to the closure, Smith College is expanding its childcare benefit for employees to up to $2,250 per year per child for infants and toddlers age 2 and younger, up to $1,250 annually for preschoolers, and up to $500 per year for elementary school-aged children, available at any licensed and accredited provider. The benefit would reach about 350 eligible employees.