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North Adams, Pittsfield Schools Report COVID-19 Cases

Staff ReportsiBerkshires
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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — There has been a confirmed case of COVID-19 at Drury High School and two cases in the Pittsfield Public Schools.  
 
The North Adams Public Schools posted a message about the Drury case on Facebook at about 4:30 p.m.
 
"We would like to inform you that we have recently received information regarding one confirmed case of COVID-19 in an individual at Drury High School. Cleaning and disinfecting of the exposed location will be completed per DPH and CDC guidance. Every individual with a potential exposure has been given instructions on the course of action they need to take, including self-isolating and testing, if directed," the post read. 
 
The name of the person in question is not being disclosed to protect patient privacy, the post stated. 
 
An email with the same message was sent to parents from the superintendent's office. 
 
In Pittsfield, an email went out in the evening saying the School Department had been notified that a staff member at Reid Middle School as well as a student at Pittsfield High School tested positive for the novel coronavirus. 
 
This is the second case in the North Adams Public Schools and the first in Pittsfield.
 
School officials in North Adams had been informed early in October that an elementary student had tested positive. The student's classroom was cleaned and the staff and the parents of students in that cohort had been notified; the school reopened 10 days later with no other cases. The elementary schools have been keeping children in the classrooms, including for lunch, to prevent transmission. 
 
The Facebook post did not indicate whether it was a student or an employee who had tested positive at Drury. The high school has also been trying to keep students from mingling by splitting grades into cohorts and having them attend mornings or afternoons. Wednesdays have been all-remote learning to allow for in-depth cleaning between cohort switches. 
 
The district has coordinated with the Department of Public Health and will follow all recommendations. Any questions or concerns can be directed to nurse leader for the district, Lauren Gage, at 413-662-3240, Ext. 2303 or lgage@napsk12.org
 
The confirmed case at Reid Middle School involves a staff member who works in a contained classroom and who was most recently physically in attendance at the school facilities on Nov. 6. The Pittsfield Department of Health says it is reaching out to each staff, student and family member who has been identified as potentially being in close contact with the infected individual.
 
With nine calendar days passing since the Pittsfield High student last attended, and as of Tuesday, no students in any of the student's classes reporting symptoms, the schools says it will continue to operate following the protocols in place. 
 
Students and staff at both school systems are reminded to practice physical distancing, stay home if sick and avoid contact with those who are sick, wash hand thoroughly and frequently, wear a face mask, cover mouth when sneezing or coughing, and keep surfaces clean. 
 
Berkshire County, like other parts of the state, has seen an increase in cases over the past few weeks. Most of the new novel coronavirus cases have been in Pittsfield but North Adams has reported more than 20 cases since Oct. 22. On Tuesday, the state reported Berkshire County had 42 new cases — the largest single day jump since April.
 
Updated with write-thru at 9 p.m. to add in Pittsfield information.

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Clarksburg Gets 3 Years of Free Cash Certified

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Town officials have heaved a sigh of relief with the state's certification of free cash for the first time in more than three years.
 
The town's parade of employees through its financial offices the past few years put it behind on closing out its fiscal years between 2021 and 2023. A new treasurer and two part-time accountants have been working the past year in closing the books and filing with the state.
 
The result is the town will have $571,000 in free cash on hand as it begins budget deliberations. However, town meeting last year voted that any free cash be used to replenish the stabilization account
 
Some $231,000 in stabilization was used last year to reduce the tax rate — draining the account. The town's had minimal reserves for the past nine months.
 
Chairman Robert Norcross said he didn't want residents to think the town was suddenly flush with cash. 
 
"We have to keep in mind that we have no money in the stabilization fund and we now have a free cash, so we have now got to replenish that account," he said. "So it's not like we have this money to spend ... most of it will go into the stabilization fund." 
 
The account's been hit several times over the past few fiscal years in place of free cash, which has normally been used for capital spending, to offset the budget and to refill stabilization. Free cash was last used in fiscal 2020.
 
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