Berkshire Green Drinks: Tracking: Out-of-Sight, Out-of-Mind

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Daniel Hansche, the founder of Spur Wander and an evaluator with Tracker Certification North America, will speak at the October Berkshire Green Drinks event on Wednesday, Oct. 9. 
 
This free hybrid event will take place online via Zoom and in person at The Barn of the Williams Inn, 101 Spring Street, Pittsfield. The in-person social gathering will begin around 5:30 PM; the presentation and Zoom meeting will start at 6:00 PM. 
 
According to a press release:
 
Wildlife tracking has contributed significantly to our awareness of the species cohabitating in the Berkshires alongside our human population. Especially valuable to the conservation and management of the more nocturnal and crepuscular mammals, tracking allows us to identify or verify those species present on the landscape when they would otherwise be imperceptible. Behaviors and habits that would be virtually impossible to see become part of our everyday awareness. What information can we glean from our backyards or favorite conservation property that would otherwise remain out of sight and out of mind?
 
 
Daniel Hansche, founder of Spur Wander and an evaluator with Tracker Certification, brings a unique perspective to the practice of wildlife tracking. From over 25 years of experience in various forms, including education, field research, and certification, Daniel will offer insights, reflection, and inspiration. Whether your interest is of sheer curiosity or that of the hobbyist, naturalist, or professional, our exploration of tracking will be dynamic and engaging for all.
 
Berkshire Green Drinks (formerly Pittsfield Green Drinks) is an informal gathering on the second Wednesday of the month that is free and open to everyone with any environmental interest. A guest speaker talks about an environmentally related topic for approximately 30 minutes beginning at 6 PM; the presentation is followed by a discussion and Q&A. 
 
Berkshire Green Drinks is sponsored and organized by the Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT). 
 

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Mount Greylock School Committee Moving Superintendent Evaluation to Fall

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.—The Mount Greylock Regional School Committee this month discussed moving its evaluation of the superintendent from the spring to the fall starting in 2027.
 
Chair Julia Bowen brought the idea to the table as part of her proposed calendar for the committee's work during the 2026-27 academic year, saying that a move to the autumn will allow the committee to factor data from the preceding year into its evaluation.
 
"To the extent that [Superintendent Joseph Bergeron's] goals are tied to school performance and, specifically, MCAS [scores], we don't get that or other end of school year summative information until the fall," Bowen said. "Many schools I've worked with and know of actually moved their school leader evaluation to the fall so they can take advantage of all the data that's actually available, rather than doing it in the June time frame.
 
"The other point on that is, as it is, we otherwise vote for Joe's goals in September/October and evaluate him in May, and that's not a year. If we can do it fall to fall, we actually get a full year of work from when we agree on the goals."
 
The committee's most experienced member, Carolyn Greene, raised a concern about breaking with the practice of completing the evaluation process in May and June.
 
"It feels natural to evaluate a superintendent at the close of a school year, not the beginning of a school year," Greene said. "We're still in it in May and June. We're still in it in terms of our mindsets. Sometimes we don't meet in July. We come back in August and do a ‘retreat.' We're now meant to hit the ground running with an evaluation in September based on the work of the previous school year. And the reason is we don't get all the data from the previous school year until September.
 
"The rhythm is off for me. But it could just be that I'm so used to the previous rhythm. I don't want to oppose it. I just do have some reservations about it."
 
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