MCLA Launches After-School STEM Program for Brayton

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts has recently launched an after-school initiative for Brayton Elementary's third-grade students to participate in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities.

The program will take place in MCLA's Feigenbaum Center for Science and Innovation through the "Help Yourself" program.

The college was approached by the Help Yourself Foundation to host a hands-on, inquiry based program for youth at MCLA.

The Help Yourself foundation was founded in 2005 by the president emeritus of Union College in Schenectady, N.Y. Roger H. Hull. Hull developed after-school programs that allowed school-aged children to come into college campuses a few times a week to participate in STEM-focused activities in the Capital Region.

"The Help Yourself Foundation thought this would be a natural extension of the work that they've already done, and would provide a unique format and location here at MCLA," H. Jake Eberwein, dean of graduate and continuing education, said. "We're replicating in great part the model that's been used in the Capitol Region, but we'll be supporting students in North Adams."

Supported by MCLA staff, students and North Adams public educators, the first 20 third graders began their activities at MCLA.Two times a week the third-graders will travel to MCLA campus with a teacher or tutor for Help Yourself's program.

Clarksburg School Pressed to Find More Savings for Fiscal 2027

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:12PM / Tuesday, April 07, 2026

Clarksburg Town Administrator Ronald Boucher says the town's ability to levy more taxes is severely limited and he doesn't want to go to an override vote. 

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — School officials are looking at the elimination of three teaching assistants, prekindergarten for 3-year-olds and a two part-time positions to reduce the fiscal 2027 budget. 

 

Business Manager Jordan Rennell on Thursday went through the latest draft of the budget during a joint meeting of the School Committee, Select Board and Finance Committee, explaining the figures behind a projected spending plan of $3,299,206, up $213,563 or 6.92 percent over this year. 

 

"This budget reflects what has changed since March, when I showed you a 6.8 [percent]," said Rennell to a packed classroom of residents and teachers. "Unfortunately, it went to 6.9 [percent]."

 

Rennell, who's new in the position, explained before she could even begin comparing this year's and next year's budget, there was a $151,000 difference "between what we voted on and what we needed to survive."

 

The bulk of that was employee health insurance, which has become a major factor in school and municipal budgets across the state. 

 

"I took those true numbers from FY26 and I dumped them into FY27 and if we kept everything the same, every program, every teacher, every TA, the same our bottom line budget would increase 11.2 percent," she said. "Between the collaborative work between the town and the principal and Superintendent [John] Franzoni and all of the pieces of the puzzle, we were able to make some hard, gut-wrenching cuts that got us to that 6.9 percent."

 

That includes Rennell's former position as the preK 3 teacher, the three assistants, a 0.2 speech position and a 0.2 occupational therapy assistant.