McCann Receives Almost $200,000 in Grant Funds

Superintendent James Brosnan, center, poses with Gov. Charlie Baker and North Adams Mayor Thomas Bernard at Wednesday's grant presentation at Salem High School. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — McCann Technical School has received a $195,873 in state Skills Capital Grant funds to purchase new advanced manufacturing equipment.

Superintendent James Brosnan was happy to tell the School Committee on Thursday that he recently visited Salem High School, where Gov. Charlie Baker awarded grant. 

"Had a great day today," he said. "This is really exciting we are flying high."

Some $10.9 million was given out to 33 high schools and educational institutions on Wednesday. The grant enables schools to acquire the cutting-edge technologies to educate students and expand programming.

Brosnan said this is the fourth year McCann has received a grant.

"I can say this is our fourth in a row," he said. "I know I can't tell you who else has had that but I don't think it is a big crowd so we are very proud of that and the quality of what we are doing."

The school will use the funds to purchase 40 new engineering workstations, a 3D printer/prototype system and a robotic manufacturing center.

Chairman Gary Rivers thanked Brosnan for the efforts to capture such grant funds and noted without these grants, McCann would never be able to purchase this equipment.

"Without these kinds of grants, we could not fund these types of projects with the budget," he said. "It would be impossible."

In other business, Nicole Bak, Cara Moulton, Briana Hayden and Tim Badu were awarded the Fay Ellen Fosser Memorial Scholarship.

"Listening to the qualities of each one of these students — these are the kinds of people we want taking care of us," Rivers said.

Fosser first enrolled in the McCann  licensed practical nursing program and eventually became a registered nurse. She worked throughout Berkshire County, where she quickly gained the reputation of a skilled caring nurse.

She died in 1984 at the age of 29 and her family established a scholarship in her memory given to students pursuing a job in the health-care field.

Brosnan thanked the family for continuing the scholarship.

"You know how we feel. It is a memory and to be able to honor her every year and do to this," he said. "It is a living memory and just is very emotional for all of us."

Toward the beginning of the meeting, the School Committee welcomed new members Timothy Rickert of Williamstown and Melanie Medon of Florida.

"Welcome to the new members and I am sure you are going to enjoy your time with us," Rivers said. "We are a very productive committee."

Cost, Access to NBCTC High Among Concerns North Berkshire Residents

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
06:15PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Adams Select Chair Christine Hoyt, NBCTC Executive Director David Fabiano and William Solomon, the attorney representing the four communities, talk after the session. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Public access channels should be supported and made more available to the public — and not be subject to a charge.

 

More than three dozen community members in-person and online attended the public hearing  Wednesday on public access and service from Spectrum/Charter Communications. The session at City Hall was held for residents in Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg and North Adams to express their concerns to Spectrum ahead of another 10-year contract that starts in October.

 

Listening via Zoom but not speaking was Jennifer Young, director state government affairs at Charter.

 

One speaker after another conveyed how critical local access television is to the community and emphasized the need for affordable and reliable services, particularly for vulnerable populations like the elderly. 

 

"I don't know if everybody else feels the same way but they have a monopoly," said Clarksburg resident David Emery. "They control everything we do because there's nobody else to go to. You're stuck with with them."

 

Public access television, like the 30-year-old Northern Berkshire Community Television, is funded by cable television companies through franchise fees, member fees, grants and contributions.

 

Spectrum is the only cable provider in the region and while residents can shift to satellite providers or streaming, Northern Berkshire Community Television is not available on those alternatives and they may not be easy for some to navigate. For instance, the Spectrum app is available on smart televisions but it doesn't include PEG, the public, educational and governmental channels provided by NBCTC.