Letter: The Children of North Adams Deserve New Greylock

To the Editor:

The City of North Adams has an incredible opportunity on Oct. 8. As a community, we not only have the chance to say "yes" to being the recipient of the largest grant in the City's history, at over $42 million. We not only have the chance to move forward with building a state-of-the-art energy efficient building that is projected to save the city $100K-plus per year in expenses. We not only have the chance to avoid dumping tens of millions of dollars into Band-Aids on our existing deficient building (Brayton) with systems at the end of their serviceable life, and we not only have the chance to invest in a project that could drive over $100 million in local economic impact.

In fact, right now we have the rare, monumental chance to show the children, educators and families of today's and future North Adams that we are committed to the wellbeing, education, and support that our youngest learners and their educators deserve.

For many of us with children in the city, the choice is crystal clear. For those with infants or that are soon expecting, the chance for their preK to second graders to attend a brand-new school is exciting and inspiring. For those of us with children who have recently gone through the doors of old Greylock or Brayton, the reality of the deficiencies of those schools shines a bright light on why we need this new school. For those who are adults in the community that grew up here and benefited from the generational investments in school infrastructure that came before, the opportunity and duty to pay it forward so that future generations can thrive is immense. In all cases, the weight of this decision is ours to make, and the opportunity is now ours to take hold of, or squander.

As a resident and taxpayer in this City of North Adams, a community I choose to call home and the place I have built my life and family in, I am honored to have the chance to vote YES on Oct. 8 for the debt exclusion to fund the city's share ($19.6 million) of the full $65.4 million new Greylock School Project. Furthermore, I ask and urge my fellow residents, committed to our community's youth and the prospect of a bright future ahead, to please do the same.

Benjamin Lamb
North Adams, Mass.

Ben Lamb is a member of the School Building Committee and a parent of two children currently attending Brayton Elementary School.

McCann Recognizes Superintendent Award Recipient

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:32PM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Landon LeClair and Superintendent James Brosnan with Landon's parents Eric and Susan LeClair, who is a teacher at McCann. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Superintendent's Award has been presented to Landon LeClair, a senior in McCann Technical School's advanced manufacturing course. 

 

The presentation was made last Thursday by Superintendent Jame Brosnan after Principal Justin Kratz read from teachers' letters extolling LeClair's school work, leadership and dedication. 

 

"He's become somewhat legendary at the Fall State Leadership Conference for trying to be a leader at his dinner table, getting an entire plate of cookies for him and all his friends," read Kratz to chuckles from the School Committee. "Landon was always a dedicated student and a quiet leader who cared about mastering the content."

 

LeClair was also recognized for his participation on the school's golf team and for mentoring younger teammates. 

 

"Landon jumped in tutoring the student so thoroughly that the freshman was able to demonstrate proficiency on an assessment despite the missed class time for golf matches," read Kratz.

 

The principal noted that the school also received feedback from LeClair's co-op employer, who rated him with all fours.

 

"This week, we sent Landon to our other machine shop to help load and run parts in the CNC mill," his employer wrote to the school. LeClair was so competent the supervisor advised the central shop might not get him back.