MCLA to Hold Fall Day of Service Oct. 15

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts will hold its annual Fall Day of Service on Saturday, Oct. 15.

Students, faculty, and staff at MCLA will gather on campus at Venable Gym, then travel to different locations in the Northern Berkshires to do volunteer work.   

The day runs from noon to 4 p.m. kicking off with remarks from MCLA President James F. Birge, Ph.D., and North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey. Participants are welcome to begin the day with a pizza lunch and transportation will be provided to the various volunteer sites after the speakers conclude.  

Coordinated by the MCLA Volunteer Center, this event is an annual tradition. Members of the public are welcome to roll up their sleeves and volunteer as well.   

To mitigate on-campus traffic, community volunteers will meet MCLA groups at respective volunteer sites. Service concludes between 3:30 and 4 p.m. when volunteers will return to campus. There is no speaking segment at the end of the event.   

Volunteers can register for participation at this link: https://bit.ly/3SDaQLn

Volunteer Sites

Louison House
Friendship Center Food Pantry
Windowdressers
Mobile Trash Cleanup
The Greylock Glen
Northern Berkshire YMCA

 


Tags: MCLA,   volunteers,   

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North Adams School Panel Recommends $20M Budget That Cuts 26 Jobs

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The School Committee will be presented next week with a $20 million spending plan for fiscal 2025 that includes closing Greylock School and a reduction of 26 full-time positions. 
 
The Finance and Facilities committee is recommending the budget of $20,357,096, up $302,744 or 1.51 percent over this year. This is funded by $16,418,826 in state Chapter 70 education funds, local funding of $3,938,270 (up $100,000 over this year) and a drawdown of school funds of $575,237. 
 
The budget is up overall because of rising contractural costs, inflation and a hike in the cost of out-of-district tuition. 
 
Superintendent Barbara Malkas told the committee on Monday that assignment letters were being sent out the next day to personnel per agreement with the union of a May 1 deadline.
 
Twenty of the reductions represent members teacher's bargaining unit including a dean of students, an art teacher, music teacher, physical education teacher, school adjustment counselor and a librarian at Drury High School (who will move to teaching and be replaced by a library paraprofessional); also affected are two clerical paraprofessionals, two custodians, one maintenance, and a school nurse. The principal is being shifted to Drury's Grades 7 and 8 "on assignment" to complete her contract. 
 
"Losing 26 positions from the budget, we still have to have some funds from our school choice revolving account in order to close the budget for FY 25," said Malkas. 
 
A couple of these positions are already vacant and it is not clear how many, if any, retirements would affect the number of job losses. Malkas said there have been "rumors" of retirements but staff have been reluctant to discuss firm plans with administration.
 
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