Senator Mark Announces November Office Hours

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BOSTON — State Senator Paul W. Mark announced that his staff will host office hours at five locations in Berkshire County in November. 
 
Residents of any of the 57 municipalities in the Senator's Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Hampshire District are encouraged to ask for assistance with issues involving any state agency or to share ideas on current or potential state legislation.
 
Appointments are not required.
  • Adams: Tuesday, November 7, and Tuesday, November 21, from 9 a.m. to noon. Town Hall, 8 Park St., Adams.
  • Dalton: Monday, November 13, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.. Senior Center, 40 Field St., Dalton.
  • Great Barrington: Monday, November 6, and Monday, November 20, from 9 a.m. to noon. Town Hall, 334 Main St., Great Barrington.
  • North Adams: Tuesday, November 7, and Tuesday, November 21, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. MCLA Alumni Relations Building, 228 E. Main St., North Adams.
  • Pittsfield: Wednesday, November 8, and Thursday, November 9, and Wednesday, November 22, from 9 a.m. to noon. District Office, 773 Tyler St., Pittsfield.
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Wahconah Students Join Statewide 'SOS' Call for Rural School Funding

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

DALTON, Mass. — Students at Wahconah Regional High School are urging the state to fully fund Rural School Aid that supports essential services that shape their future.
 
Rural districts across the state participated in Rural and Declining Enrollment Schools Week of Action to insist Beacon Hill fully fund rural aid at $60 million. 
 
Schools across Massachusetts sent their pleas for aid to lawmakers through letter-writing campaigns, sign-making, and coordinated gatherings where students and educators formed the letters "SOS."

Wahconah students did something different — they created an educational video detailing the need for increased funding for rural schools with the school's music teacher Brian Rabuse, who edited the video, Assistant Superintendent Aaron Robb said. 

The advocacy efforts move the issue from spreadsheets to show the human cost of a funding formula previously described as "remarkably wrong." 
 
During an interview with iBerkshires, students expressed how districts without rural aid would have to make reductions in world language programing, mental health support, extracurricular opportunities, and other areas they find essential. 
 
"Our students deserve the same quality of education as any child in Massachusetts, regardless of their ZIP code," Superintendent Mike Henault said in apress release.
 
"The week of action is an opportunity for our communities to come together and make it clear to Beacon Hill that the status quo is no longer acceptable." 
 
Rural schools attempt to create the same quality education as urban and suburban areas while balancing high fixed costs of transportation and operations of geographically large, low-population districts.
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