Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative Launches Website

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative has announced the launch of a new website containing comprehensive information on how to access the Berkshire area COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

The new site, www.getvaccinatedberkshires.org, was developed to provide a consolidated resource with information about the COVID-19 vaccines, to provide resources on the state's Vaccination Phases and vaccine availability, and to aid the public in making appointments at the three large mass vaccination clinic sites in the Berkshires.

The Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative has established vaccination sites in Pittsfield at the Berkshire Community College Field House, in Great Barrington at the WEB Du Bois Middle School and in North Adams at St. Elizabeth of Hungary's Parish Center. Vaccine clinics are now scheduled for early February to begin vaccinations for the first part of Phase 2, which includes anyone aged 75 and older.

The Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative estimates that there are approximately 18,000 Berkshire residents who are 75 and older, and based on the current distribution of vaccine by the State of Massachusetts, it is likely to take several weeks before completion of Phase 2-A. Clinics will be held weekly based on availability of the vaccine from the Commonwealth.

The website will be updated regularly as more clinics are scheduled throughout February and the coming months and as the state continues to move through Phase 2 and into Phase 3, which is estimated to run through the remainder of winter and into the spring.

The Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative is a partnership between Berkshire Health Systems, Community Health Programs, the Berkshire County Boards of Health Association and public health nurses.

The website is www.getvaccinatedberkshires.org.

 


Tags: BHS,   CHP,   COVID-19,   


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Pittsfield Schools Officials See FY27 Budget for 13 Schools

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Right after the School Committee voted to close Morningside Community School, members saw how it will affect the fiscal year 2027 budget

The $87,200,061 budget for FY27 remains, but funds that would have gone to Morningside are following students to four other schools. 

"As we look at the high-level totals, you notice that the total budget amount is the same. We only have so many dollars to work with. Even though that doesn't change, the composition of spending changes," Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Bonnie Howland explained. 

Mayor Peter Marchetti, chair of the School Committee, said this year's budget process was "extremely confusing," because of coming changes within the Pittsfield Public Schools, including the middle school restructuring. 

The proposed FY27 budget for the School Department includes $68,886,061 in state Chapter 70 funding and $18 million from the city.  A 13-school plan, excluding Morningside, saves in instruction, school services, and operations and maintenance, allowing those funds to be reinvested across the district. 

Last week, the House Ways and Means Committee released a budget that brings an additional $858,660 to PPS. This includes a rate of $160 per pupil minimum school aid, and Fair Share Amendment earmarks secured by state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier and state Sen. Paul Mark. 

Morningside's pupils will be reassigned to Allendale, Capeless, Egremont, and Williams elementary schools.  For fiscal year 2027, the district had allocated about $5.2 million for Morningside.

Officials identified school's lack of classroom walls as the most significant obstacle, creating a difficult and noisy learning environment that is reflected in its accountability score.

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