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Berkshire County Arc Awards Scholarships to Five Local High School Seniors

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County Arc and the Berkshire County Arc Down Syndrome Family Group have awarded scholarships ranging up to $1,400 to five high school seniors who demonstrated outstanding prior involvement with individuals with disabilities and the potential to contribute to the field of human services.

* Victoria A. Ryan, Monument Mountain Regional High School

* Cody Ciepiela, Wahconah Regional High School (Recipient of the Down Syndrome Family Group Scholarship, which is funded by Berkshire County Arc and the Berkshire County Arc Down Syndrome Family Group.)

* Elizabeth B. Bean, St. Joseph High School (Recipient of the Carol Craighead Memorial Scholarship Award, which is funded by Berkshire County Arc and the Berkshire County Arc Down Syndrome Family Group.)


* Krista L. VanCour, Mount Everett Regional High School

* Maggie F. Moody, Taconic High School

Elizabeth B. Bean’s scholarship is the Sixth Annual Carol Craighead Memorial Scholarship Award, which is presented in memory of Carol Craighead, who was a Berkshire County Arc Board member, volunteer and supporter for more than 40 years.

An independent panel of community members consisting of Daniel Dillon, relationship development officer of Greylock Federal Credit Union; Shirley Edgerton, retiree from the Department of Developmental Services; June Hailer, chairperson of the Pittsfield Commission on Disabilities; and Lee Ann Pettus, secretary of the Berkshire County Arc Down Syndrome Family Group, selected the winners. Funds for the scholarships were raised through Berkshire County Arc's Annual Golf Classic and the Berkshire County Arc Down Syndrome Family Group.

 


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Central Berkshire School Officials OK $35M Budget

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School Committee approved a $35 million budget for fiscal 2025 during its meeting on Thursday.
 
Much of the proposed spending plan is similar to what was predicted in the initial and tentative budget presentations, however, the district did work with the Finance subcommittee to further offset the assessments to the towns, Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis said. 
 
"What you're going see in this budget is a lower average assessment to the towns than what you saw in the other in the tentative budget that was approved," she said. 
 
The fiscal 2025 budget is $35,428,892, a 5.56 percent or $1,867,649, over this year's $33,561,243.
 
"This is using our operating funds, revolving revenue or grant revenue. So what made up the budget for the tentative budget is pretty much the same," Director of Finance and Operations Gregory Boino said.
 
"We're just moving around funds … so, we're using more of the FY25 rural aid funds instead of operating funds next year."
 
Increases the district has in the FY25 operating budget are from active employee health insurance, retiree health insurance, special education out-of-district tuition, temporary bond principal and interest payment, pupil transportation, Berkshire County Retirement contributions, and the federal payroll tax. 
 
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