NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The North Adams Public Schools have seen no further transmission after the school officials learned last week that a student had tested positive for COVID-19.
"The district is happy to report that the Public Health Nurse has informed our School Nurse Leader that all testing and follow up has been completed regarding the COVID-19 positive case," the school system posted on its Facebook page. "No other positive cases have been identified. All staff members and students who were notified to isolate through contact tracing are cleared to return to school on Monday, October 19, 2020 to the hybrid model for Track/Cohort A. Thank you."
Superintendent Barbara Malkas last week said the single positive case was limited to a classroom and adjacent bathrooms, all of which were sanitized, and that everyone in contact with the individual was informed.
The school's hybrid system is set up to limit transmission of the novel coronavirus dividing the classes into cohorts and having them in the schools two days each. Each class is relegated to a single classroom allowing for social distancing and lunches are eaten in the classroom as well to prevent spread.
North Adams is believed to be the first public school system to confirm a case of COVID-19. The private Pine Cobble School closed for two weeks in September after an outbreak resulting in seven cases. Williams College has had a total of five positive cases since Aug. 17, and none in the past two weeks; Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts has had three total, none in the past week. Berkshire Community College has so far had one case.
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Cost, Access to NBCTC High Among Concerns North Berkshire Residents
By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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.
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.
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