Mass Transportation Secretary Announces Chief Communications Officer

08:00AM / Saturday, January 27, 2024Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — Massachusetts Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt is announcing the appointment of Amelia Aubourg to the position of Chief Communications Officer.

In this role, Aubourg will oversee all internal and external communications for the four divisions of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to ensure the key policies, programs, and projects of MassDOT are communicated to municipal officials, elected leaders, residents, employees, advocates, and other stakeholders in coordination with other members of the Secretary's executive team. In addition, she will work to coordinate communications and community engagement with the MBTA to provide the public with accurate and continuous information.

"Amelia Aubourg has been successful in communications and public-facing positions for more than 20 years and she joins our senior management team at an important time in the field of transportation," said Secretary Tibbits-Nutt. "Amelia will help ensure that the Healey-Driscoll Administration's transportation initiatives are communicated effectively to the public and that our internal and external communications reflect the priorities of our partners as we make operational decisions and capital investments."

Aubourg joins MassDOT after working for the City of Boston for Boston Public Schools, where she served as the Director of Communications and, most recently, the Interim Chief Communications Officer. She served as a key communications advisor for the district, responsible for strategic oversight and management of internal and external communications, ensuring BPS families, students, staff, partners, and other constituents were informed about and engaged in district priorities, policies, practices, challenges, and opportunities. Additionally, she developed and implemented communications strategies to improve public understanding of the Boston Public Schools' efforts to improve academic achievement among all students. Her work included leveraging comprehensive messaging to support key district initiatives through various channels of digital and social media, public affairs, events, branding, and marketing.

"I am excited to join a team dedicated to delivering on transportation infrastructure that is safe, reliable, and resilient. I look forward to honing in on key focus areas where we can highlight the work and mission of MassDOT to share our impact and growth and showcase initiatives and projects that engage communities and make a difference in the lives of residents throughout the Commonwealth," said Aubourg.

Aubourg will begin work as Chief Communications Officer on January 8. She brings a wealth of experience of creative and strategic storytelling in increasing brand recognition and growth. Before working for the City of Boston, Aubourg served as the Director of Communications and External Affairs for Mass Mentoring Partnership, a statewide nonprofit committed to ensuring that all young people in Massachusetts have the mentoring relationships they need to develop into thriving, engaged adults, resulting in vibrant communities. She also held senior communications and leadership roles at large nonprofits including Action for Boston Community Development and the American Red Cross of Eastern Massachusetts and in higher education at Regis College.

Aubourg received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and a Master of Science in Organizational and Professional Communication from Regis College.

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Pittsfield School Committee Sees Budget Calendar, Chapter 70 Concerns

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:28AM / Monday, January 19, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Public Schools kicked off its fiscal year 2027 budget calendar, and are again facing uncertainties with state Chapter 70 funding.

During the first meeting of the new term on Wednesday, the School Committee OK'd an FY27 budget calendar that plans the committee's vote in mid-April. Interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips stressed the importance of equity in this process.

"It's really important for us through these next couple of months to look at our different schools, our different needs, different student demographics, and really understand, are we just assigning resources equally, or are we really assigning them based on what different groups of students need?" she said.

The district could lose up to $5 million in Chapter 70 funding from declining enrollment, specifically of low-income students. This is a similar issue that PPS saw in 2024, when the discovery of 11 students meeting those income guidelines put the district in the higher funding category and added $2.4 million to the school budget.

"We are in a funding category, Group 11, for a district with a large percentage of low-income students, and that number could fluctuate depending on who exited the district," Phillips explained.

"So we're going to do our best to understand that, but ultimately, these numbers will impact the budget that is proposed to us by the governor."

According to the budget calendar, a draft budget will be presented in March, followed by a hearing in early April, and the School Committee is set to vote on the budget in mid-April. The City Charter requires it to be adopted before May 1, and a meeting with the City Council must occur no later than May 31.

Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Bonnie Howland provided an overview of the Chapter 70 funding and budget process. The budget calendar, she said, is designed to really support transparency, coordination, and legal compliance.

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