MCLA Adds Class to Summer Sessions Offerings: 'I Can’t Breathe'

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — As part of its first Summer Session from May 31-June 11, 2021, MCLA will offer an education course titled "I Can't Breathe:" Racial Capitalism at the Intersections of Race, Social Class, Space, and School,"(EDUC 364) taught by Dr. Lisa Arrastia, assistant professor of education.  
 
The course will take place remotely on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4:30-6:20 p.m., and addresses Massachusetts Subject Matter Knowledge goals for history and social science, English language arts, and digital literacy and computer science for grades 5-12.  
 
Course description 
 
The guiding, interdisciplinary question of this course is, "Why can't Black bodies breathe in America?" The professor and students in this course will act as parallel learners who attempt to respond to this same question and, therefore, both will be "the student" in this unique and timely class that will use methods of history, aesthetics, and multimedia. The course will use as a case study the Derek Chauvin trial in the death of George Floyd to examine how the historical and contemporary landscape of American racial traumas are devised, composed, and constituted. 
 
Learn more and register for summer classes at www.mcla.edu/summer

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Steel Structure Completed, Roof Taking Shape at New Greylock School

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The steel work is completed and the roof is taking shape at the new Greylock School. 
 
"Nearly all of the steel is complete. They've essentially demobilized from the site," Todd Ashford, representative with owner's project manager Colliers International, told the School Building Committee on Tuesday. "A couple of big trades that have started their construction are the masonry block on the exterior walls, the exterior metal framing has started, and roofing is anticipated to start in the next, I would say, two weeks."
 
He said a lot of the masonry block and steel framing on the exteriors should be close to completion by the next meeting. Also, a binder course of asphalt should be down by the first week in October, which should help reduce the dirt and mud coming off the site. 
 
A large slab actually was scheduled to be poured Wednesday to house the HVAC equipment and was expected to take until 7 p.m. Mayor Jennifer Macksey said those residents signed up on the email list were apprised of the after hours work. 
 
The committee also approved invoices for the month and Ashford noted that about $17.8 million in invoices have been paid to date, of which $6.4 million was eligible for reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The MSBA is reimbursing the city for 80 percent of eligible costs, or about $42 million. 
 
Committee member Lisa Blackmer asked if the reimbursements were keeping pace with expenditures. 
 
Macksey said it's been about 30 to 45 days for reimbursement, and so far they've had no problems with reimbursements. Colliers and Nancy Rauscher, director of school finance and operations, have been working well together, she said. 
 
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