Clarksburg School Declines North Adams Food...

The School Committee voted 2-1 last week to decline an offer from the North Adams Public Schools' Food Service Department to take over the cafeteria

DOJ Bringing 'SPIRIT' Program to Area Schools

The Department of Justice is bringing training to the county to help prevent racial violence in the schools. Superintendent Jason McCandless said Central Berkshire Regional School District had headed an effort to bring in the department's Student Problem Identification and Resolution of Issues Together (SPIRIT) program and invited other districts to send representatives to the first meeting. McCandless said eventually the goal is to open to a wider region.

Taconic High's Graduation to Be Held at Boys &...

The first class to graduate from the newly constructed Taconic High School will do so at the Boys and Girls Club. The graduation had typically been held in the high school's gymnasium. However, the new school's gym is smaller than the previous one and last year's graduation was the last one before the former home of the Braves was torn down.

Drury Band to March in Washington Fourth of July...

The Drury High School band will again represent Massachusetts marching in the National Independence Day Parade in Washington, D.C.

St. Stan's Announces School Honor Roll

A student merits high honors for an average of 93 or higher. A student merits honors for an average between 85 and 92.

McCann Brings Home Gold From SkillsUSA

Seven McCann students can now say they are the best in the state: Nate Myers, Aubrey Tetlow, Joe Vigiard, Ethan Walden, Kenzie Oblisk, Stephanie Shatford, and Cecilia Marszalek all came out on top in their trades.

North Adams School Committee Approves Budget,...

Some $265,000 in school choice funds is being used to offset the budget, bringing the total down to $17.769 million. That represents an increase of $348,414 over this year, or 2 percent.

After-School Dance Program Culminates in '62...

The demonstration on Friday in the black box theater at the '62 Center for Theatre and Dance was a culmination of an after-school program at Brayton Elementary School in North Adams.

Pittsfield Gets Grant to Help Recruit Teachers of...

The School Department reeled in a $42,000 grant to help recruit new teachers, particularly those of color. Superintendent Jason McCandless said the program will connect teachers studying at North Carolina Agriculture and Technical University. In the summer the district will bring a group of the students studying there to the Berkshires, introduce them to the school system, show them around the area, and talk to them about the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure.

Pittsfield Honors Winners of Jazz-themed Student...

Berkshire Jazz and Mayor Linda Tyer honored the winners of the 12th annual student art contest on Tuesday morning. The annual event is organized by art teacher Colleen Quinn at Pittsfield High School and asks students to create jazz-inspired pieces of work. Sophia Nguyen took home this year's first prize, Megan Francoeur took home second, and Antonia Bedard Torres came in third.

Pittsfield School Building Needs Starts Convo On...

Superintendent Jason McCandless believes Conte, Morningside, and Crosby should be linchpins to deciding what will be the next school capital project. Conte and Morningside both have 1970s-style open plan classrooms, an outdated style of education McCandless said has a number of drawbacks. Those two also have had little for capital projects in the last 40 or so years with Conte receiving a renovation in 1974 and Morningside the following year.

BCC Nursing Program Earns Accreditation

Berkshire Community College's nursing program is being accredited through 2023, bringing relief to the beleaguered program.

Oil Spill Under Former Taconic Add Unforeseen Cost...

An oil spill has led to contractors to dip more into the contingency fund for the new Taconic High School. Jim Moran, project manager with Skanska USA, said during the demolition of the original school, a slab under the boiler room was removed, unveiling an oil spill contaminating the soil. The land there had to be remediated and rain had poured in requiring treatment.

North Adams' Kids 4 Harmony Gets Gift From A...

Kids 4 Harmony is reliant on donations to keep it going and, on Friday, the organization was presented with a $2,000 check from Williamstown's A Better Community organization.

BArT Announces Third Quarter Honor Roll

Students who earned 80 percent or above in all of their classes received the distinction of "Honors." Students who earned 90 percent or above in all of their classes received the distinction of "High Honors."

Local Schools Receive Olmsted Awards from Williams...

Each entity will receive $5,000 for professional and curricular development projects.

Mass MoCA Exhibited 273 Works by High School...

Tobin and Laura Thompson, the director of education, announced the winners of the invitational at a party with the Drury High jazz band in the Hunter Center that followed the public reception on Friday night.

Park, School Violence Prompts Response From...

City officials are looking to address ongoing issues of violence in schools and parks. Mayor Linda Tyer, Police Chief Michael Wynn, Superintendent Jason McCandless, and District Attorney Andrea Harrington released a joint statement on Friday addressing the growing concern over the incidents.

Applications Due for Lola Greene Legacy...

Pittsfield School Committee Condemns Racial MCAS...

The School Committee is condemning a racially insensitive question on the MCAS. But, they aren't sure what the best remedy to the situation will be. School administrators are now crafting a letter to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley to have it on record that the Pittsfield School Department believes the question should not have been on the test and that the vetting of the questions failed.