PITTSFIELD - The recent rise in MCAS scores in Pittsfield and North Adams schools has pleased backers of the Berkshire Wireless Learning Initiative.
Through BWLI, more than 2,300 Apple iBooks have been provided to students and teachers in the Pittsfield and North Adams middle schools. The laptops were distributed to seventh-grade students in January 2006 and to sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders the following fall.
Michael Supranowicz, president of the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce and co-chairman of BWLI’s Steering Committee, believes that BWLI is playing a major role in improving student achievement.
"The laptops have helped open doors for all students and it's great to see positive results at this stage of the program," Supranowicz said. "It's important to recognize the role the teachers have played in implementing new teaching methods through BWLI; their ability to help open those doors for the students has helped increase the achievement levels."
The goals of the initiative are to improve student achievement and transform the way education is delivered in the participating middle schools. One of the ways that the goals will be measured is by looking at trends in standardized test scores.
The results of the 2007 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System results posted on the state Department of Education Web site show rising trends for both cities' schools. DOE's Web site also indicates that the middle schools in both districts are making adequate yearly progress in math and English language/arts.
The Catholic Schools of Pittsfield, also a participant in BWLI, administer the Iowa Tests to its students. According to Donna Quallen, principal of St. Joseph School, the results for last year’s seventh-grade students were very positive in both math and language.
Superintendent of Pittsfield Public Schools Katherine Darlington sees a connection between BWLI and the rise in MCAS scores in her district.
"The Pittsfield Public Schools have shown dramatic improvement in student achievement on MCAS 2007," said Darlington. "Both Reid and Herberg middle schools have met their academic improvement targets in the aggregate and in all subgroups. We are attributing the BWLI one-to-one laptop initiative as a significant factor in helping us to raise student achievement by facilitating online assessments of student progress and providing instructional resources, strategies, and tools for teaching in innovative and engaging ways."
A formal evaluation study of BWLI is being conducted by Boston College's Technology and Assessment Study Collaborative (inTasc). InTasc is working closely with students, faculty, and school and state educational leaders to evaluate the effects of the initiative on teaching and learning.
Student achievement measures are being examined through the analysis of school records and individual student MCAS performance in the three participating public schools – Silvio O. Conte Middle School in North Adams and Herberg and Reid middle schools in Pittsfield.
Although Boston College has issued some preliminary evaluation reports, the impact of BWLI on achievement cannot be fully analyzed until after the end of the pilot program in June 2008. Even without the formal data, though, the schools are noticing that BWLI has had many positive impacts on learning.
In Boston College’s Year 1 evaluation results, BWLI students reported large increases in their computer use across all of the major subject areas and teachers reported large increases in the ways and frequency with which they use technology. In preliminary Year 2 findings, the majority of BWLI teachers report that the program has resulted in improvements in students’ quality of work, ability to work independently, engagement level, motivation, and participation in class.
James Stakenas, vice president of administration and finance at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and co-chairman of BWLI’s Steering Committee, believes that a key to the success of BWLI is professional development for teachers.
"The BWLI Steering Committee recognized right away the importance of professional development for teachers for this program to be a success," Stakenas said. "MCLA has been involved from the start and is gratified that the entire effort shows a positive result. This reflects positively on the teachers, technical support, school administration and MCLA. We are also thankful for the state support and many contributions of the business community to make this happen."
The North Adams Public Schools is very pleased with its MCAS scores throughout the district, and in particular at Conte Middle School.
"We are thrilled with this year’s MCAS performance at Conte Middle School," said James Montepare, superintendent of the North Adams Public Schools. "Conte made adequate yearly progress in both ELA and Math. If you just take a moment to walk the halls at Conte you will see that there is a different kind of atmosphere and a different kind of learner. Students and teachers are engaged not only with their subject area but with each other and BWLI has been the primary conduit for this."
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
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