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Students Connor Thurston and Michael Losardo hope that others have the same educational opportunity that they had at St. Joseph Central High School.
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St Joe Strong: The Crusaders Won't Go Down Without A Fight

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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Dozens of parents, alumni, and students rallied at Park Square on Thursday.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Unless Pope Francis himself says nothing can be done, the crusaders will be strong.
 
In the wake of the Diocese of Springfield announcing last week the closure of the 120-year St. Joseph Central High School, parents, students, and alumni have joined together to appeal the closing of the county's only Catholic high school.
 
The "St. Joe Strong" effort kicked off in earnest Thursday night when dozens of people rallied at Park Square as the fight to keep the school open began.
 
"I think it is important enough for us to fight this. If Pope Francis himself wants to say to me, it is not worth it to have a high school there, then I will say OK," said Kristina Kisiel, a parent of a St. Joe freshman and one of the organizers of the St. Joe Strong movement.
 
The decision came down last Thursday that the school would close in June from Sister Andrea Ciszewski, Springfield diocesan superintendent of Catholic schools. It came as a shock to St. Joe families.
 
"There was no indication that there would be any closing. It is a real big insult to the families of St. Joe to hear today and yesterday that we should have seen the writing on the wall when they were saying exactly the opposite," said Lara Sohl.
 
Bishop Mitchell T. Rozanski said in a statement that school leaders had hoped to turn around a decline in enrollment to eradicate a financial burden but the efforts were unattainable.
 
"It was with great sadness that this decision had to be made, but not before many years of valiant efforts by the very dedicated board, faculty, and staff of St. Joseph's," Rozanski wrote in a statement. "We had hoped to turn around the enrollment decline and financial deficit, but despite the very best and exemplary efforts of so many, the task proved unattainable. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who grieve the end of this great school."
 
But for parents, that was a change in message. Last year when the diocese opted to close St. Mark's K-8 school, Sohl said parents were told the closure would help keep St. Joe sustainable for "10 years or more." 
 
Just six months ago, Rozanski said, "I want to reaffirm the commitment of the Diocese of Springfield in partnership with the local Berkshire community to continue support of St. Joseph Central High School and its academic mission ... While there are great challenges, the need for Catholic secondary education in Berkshire County remains strong" after the high school was accredited for another 10 years by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
 
"We as parents of freshmen who are just coming into this school made the choice to come here based on all of the assurances that St. Joe was going to be around for at least until they graduated," Kisiel said.
 
Kisiel said parents were not involved in the decision to close whatsoever. She said she received a phone call on Wednesday of last week informing her that the students would have a half day on Thursday. The next day she received another phone call telling here there was an important meeting for parents and students just a few short hours later. And that's when the news was delivered.
 
"It wasn't as if this was a process that involved all of the stakeholders. This was a process that came down from the diocese and just said we are closing this school. And that was it," she said.
 
She added that no one in the administration had known about the closure ahead of time and only one member of the Board of Trustees had knowledge of the decision.
 
St. Joe senior Connor Thurston said the school has given him not only a great education but one that instilled strong moral beliefs and good decision making through a Catholic education. But with the closure, his sister won't be able to have that.
 
"I'm very scared and concerned because I have a sister who is a freshman. I want her to get the same quality Catholic education that I received. Knowing that she is not going to receive that, I'm scared and sad for her," Thurston said.
 
Junior Michael Losardo has no idea what he is going to do for education next year. He believed not only he was going to graduate from the Catholic school but that it would be around for generations.
 
"I'm really disappointed because this was a shock. The school really raised my confidence level and I'm doing math I never thought I'd do. I want this to be around for the next generation of kids," Losardo said.
 
St. Joe Strong hopes to make that happen. Just days after the closure was announced about a dozen parents gathered to discuss the news.
 
"We decided we weren't ready for a swan song. We were ready for a fight song. And, St. Joe Strong just came out of that," Sohl said.
 
The group created a Facebook page and has organized fundraisers, starting with a beer and wine tasting at the Lichtenstein at 7 p.m. on Nov. 5 and they are selling wristbands. The group looks to host other fundraisers as well. And with those funds, the group will be hiring an attorney who specializes in canon law to appeal the closure all the way to the Vatican if needed.
 
"It has already impacted my faith, the reaction we've gotten from Bishop Rozanski and from his office. I'm left wondering is this really my church? My kids are left wondering that. I have a junior who is supposed to be making his confirmation this year and he is saying, I'm not feeling like it anymore. It does impact our faith and how we will be filling the parish pews. This isn't how it is supposed to be," Sohl said.
 

St. Joseph's is the only Catholic high school left in Berkshire County.
Eleanor Bercury is one of three generations in her family to graduate from St. Joseph — her mother, her, and her daughters. For 17 years he volunteered with the three Catholic schools in the city — St. Joe, St. Marks, and Sacred Heart — when she could have been working. She was shocked by the announcement as well.
 
"I just can't believe this could happen so suddenly," she said. "It means everything to me — three generations. My kids are devastated. But, I don't know what can be done at this point."
 
On Thursday, she was just one of the dozens who took to Park Square holding out hope that the diocese will instead keep the school open.
 
"We are not giving up hope. We believe in miracles," Bercury said.
 
School nurse Lois Bessette said the St. Joe experience cannot be replaced. The 80-year-old had hoped to end her nursing career at the school because it was such a "wonderful experience" for her to be there.
 
"When you work with them and you see the comradery, the family atmosphere, I think it is absolutely wonderful. I love being there, I really do," Bessette said.
 
Meanwhile, Kisiel voiced concern about what the closure would mean to all Catholic education in the county. St. Stanislaus School in Adams, St. Agnes' Academy in Dalton and St. Mary's School in Lee, all elementary schools, are the last of what had been a thriving Catholic school system in the Berkshires. Kisiel said parents may not be willing to invest in a Catholic education just up until 8th grade, and then send their children to public schools. 
 
From young to old, the Crusaders aren't willing to just accept the school's fate.
 
"We need to say that we're not going to go down without a fight. But also to show the people of Pittsfield that St. Joe needs to remain open," Thurston said.

Tags: parochial school,   religious education,   school closures,   st joe,   

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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