BOSTON — The state Department of Transportation has selected snowplow names submitted by students at Morris Elementary and Pine Cobble schools.
They were among the 12 winning classrooms for the third annual "Name A Snowplow" contest for elementary and middle school students.
Katie Simonelli's second-grade class at Morris in Lenox offered the name "Snowana" and Jeff Uhas' fifth grade at Pine Cobble in Williamstown submitted "Ice Ice Baby."
The names will be applied to trucks in District 1, headquartered in Lenox.
"This contest is a great way for schools across the state to connect with the crews who work tirelessly to keep our roads clear each winter," said Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. "Thank you to everyone who took part in this contest, and congratulations to our winners."
Last year, fourth-graders at Crosby Elementary School in Pittsfield named a truck "Flurry Fighter" and sixth-graders at Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School in Shelburne Falls came up with "Sled Zeppelin."
The contest this year received entries from classrooms located across Massachusetts to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows within the six districts that will be in service during this 2024/2025 winter season. The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to help recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during the winter season.?
One name each is selected from submissions from kindergarten through Grade 4 and from Grades 5 through 8.
"Maintaining safe and clear roads across Massachusetts during winter is no easy task. We appreciate how educators are engaging their students in this fun competition that honors this vital public service," said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. "Congratulations to the winning classrooms, and we look forward to seeing your snowplows out in the field."
Besides District 1, the winners are listed below.
District 2
K-4: "Control-Salt-Delete," Kathleen Koonz's kindergarten at Swift River School in New Salem
Grade 5-8: "It's Snow Problem," Tina DeLullo's Grade 6, Paul R. Baird Middle School in Ludlow
District 3
K-4: "Abominable Plowman," Kimberly Tremlett's fourth grade, Brophy Elementary School in Framingham
Grade 5-8: "Mac N' Freeze," Abby Normandin's fifth grade, Oak Street Elementary School in Franklin
District 4
K-4: "Snow Force One," Kristen Butler's kindergarten, Great Oak Elementary School in Danvers
Grade 5-8: "Blizzard Buster," Gabrielle Campbell's seventh grade, North Andover Middle School
District 5
K-4: "Taylor Drift," Lisa Perry's first grade, Dighton Elementary School
Grade 5-8: "C3P Snow," Deborah Stratton's fifth grade, St. Mary's Catholic School in Mansfield
District 6
K-4: "Ice S'now More," Kathleen Blaho's fourth grade, St. Mary of the Hills School in Milton
Grades 5-8: "Meltin' John," Sean Milligan's eighth grade, Manville School in Boston
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Lanesborough Officials Review Schools' Budgets
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
Mount Greylock Superintendent Joseph Bergeron, left, addresses the Lanesborough Select Board and Finance Committee as School Committee member Curtis Elfenbein looks at the projection of a slide in the district's budget presentation.
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Town officials Monday appeared generally receptive to the fiscal year 2027 spending plans for the two public school districts that serve the town.
Superintendents from the Northern Berkshire Vocational Regional School District (McCann Technical School) and Mount Greylock Regional School District presented their respective FY27 budgets to a joint meeting of the town's Finance Committee and Select Board.
Both districts are sending significantly higher assessments for approval at Lanesborough's annual town meeting in June.
McCann Tech, which constituted a $317,109 expenditure for the town in the current fiscal year, is seeking $463,978 for the fiscal year that begins on July 1 even though the school's operating budget is up just 3.2 percent year to year.
The 46 percent increase in Lanesborough's share of McCann Tech's budget is is due to two factors: a rise in enrollment of town residents at the vocational school from 20 in 2025 to 29 in this school year and a capital assessment for the first round of payments — for interest only — for a roof and window replacement project on the North Adams campus.
The Mount Greylock assessment, a much larger component of Lanesborough's property tax bill, is up 10.99 percent from FY26 to FY27, from $6.8 million to $7.6 million.
Mount Greylock Superintendent Joseph Bergeron gave a budget presentation similar to one he has delivered twice to the district's School Committee and again last month to the Williamstown Finance Committee, explaining that while the FY27 budget maintains level services to students with a net reduction of three positions, a series of factors are driving much larger assessments to Mount Greylock's two member towns.
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