Letter: Vote Dan Caplinger for Williamstown School Committee

To the Editor:

My name is Dan Caplinger, and I'm running for re-election to the Williamstown Elementary School Committee. I've served on the committee since 2012 and became its chair in June 2015. I've also served in related roles on other local school committees, including the superintendency union committee between Lanesborough and Williamstown and committees concerning Mount Greylock regionalization and the selection of the current Tri-District superintendent.

Throughout my time on the committee, I have strived to learn about and listen to all of the views our community has expressed about the elementary school. I've sought to find common ground to move us toward our common goal: to provide our children with the highest-quality education possible. My efforts haven't always been immediately successful, but setbacks have only made me try harder.

I have brought together members of the school community who disagree strongly and urged them to listen to each other. At the same time, I've also understood that not everyone is able to defend their rights and opinions in a public forum, and I've honored that by doing my best to represent them and their needs as well.

Please support me with your vote on May 10. Please give me the opportunity to keep working for the 450 children at Williamstown Elementary School.

Dan Caplinger
Williamstown, Mass.

Williamstown Fire Committee Talks Station Project Cuts, Truck Replacement

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
05:17AM / Friday, April 26, 2024

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Prudential Committee on Wednesday signed off on more than $1 million in cost cutting measures for the planned Main Street fire station.

 

Some of the "value engineering" changes are cosmetic, while at least one pushes off a planned expense into the future.

 

The committee, which oversees the Fire District, also made plans to hold meetings over the next two Wednesdays to finalize its fiscal year 2025 budget request and other warrant articles for the May 28 annual district meeting. One of those warrant articles could include a request for a new mini rescue truck.

 

The value engineering changes to the building project originated with the district's Building Committee, which asked the Prudential Committee to review and sign off.

 

In all, the cuts approved on Wednesday are estimated to trim $1.135 million off the project's price tag.

 

The biggest ticket items included $250,000 to simplify the exterior masonry, $200,000 to eliminate a side yard shed, $150,000 to switch from a metal roof to asphalt shingles and $75,000 to "white box" certain areas on the second floor of the planned building.

 

The white boxing means the interior spaces will be built but not finished. So instead of dividing a large space into six bunk rooms and installing two restrooms on the second floor, that space will be left empty and unframed for now.