Mount Greylock Principal Leaving At Year's End

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Mount Greylock Regional High School's principal announced last week that he was stepping down at the end of the school year.

Timothy Payne, who has been part of the administrative team since being appointed assistant principal in 2003, informed his staff on Friday that submitted his resignation effective June 30.

In a statement released to iBerkshires on Tuesday, Superintendent Rose Ellis described Payne as a "dedicated educator for 11 years in a number of significant roles."

Payne began at the school as a history teacher in 2001 after several years at Mount Anthony Union High School in Bennington, Vt. He was named co-principal of the high school in 2005 with Ellen Kaiser, principal of the middle school. Last year, after the administration was restructured, he was named principal of the high and middle schools and Christopher Barnes was hired as assistant princpal to share administrative responsibility for all grades.

Update: Payne was hired to be the new principal of Mount Anthony Union High School, the largest high school in Vermont.

Williamstown Board Opts to Negotiate with College on Water St. Lot

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:04AM / Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Newly elected board member Nate Budington, far left, participates in his first in-person meeting along with, from left, Matt Neely, Stephanie Boyd, Peter Beck, Shana Dixon and Town Manager Robert Menicocci.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Select Board on Monday decided to enter into negotiations with Williams College on the sale of the vacant town-owned lot at 59 Water St.

 

But the board members made it clear that the college's proposal to acquire the lot is a starting point, not a final deal that the elected officials would accept.

 

"For the sake of continued conversation, I'm in favor of [awarding Williams the site], but if this process wasn't continued with the opportunity for further negotiation, I wouldn't vote to continue this," Peter Beck said. "I think that next step is necessary for us to get to a yes on this."

 

"I think there's wide agreement on that," Matthew Neely said just before the 5-0 vote to enter talks with the college.

 

Williams was the sole respondent to a town-issued request for proposals to develop the former town garage site, currently a dirt lot.

 

The college's stated intent is to build a new Facilities office and create up to 170 parking spaces at 59 Water Street. That use will allow the college to redevelop the current Facilities building site and parking lot as part of a reconception of the school's indoor athletic and recreation facilities.

 

Under the terms of the RFP, the college's proposal was subjected to review by an ad hoc advisory committee to the town manager, who brought the question to the Select Board. That board will have the final say on any purchase and sales agreement.