Senator Mark February Staff Office Hours

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BOSTON — State Senator Paul W. Mark announced that his staff will host office hours at four locations in Berkshire County in February.
 
Residents of any of the 57 municipalities in the Senator's Berkshire, Hampden, Franklin, and Hampshire District are encouraged to share ideas on current or potential state legislation, or to ask for assistance with issues involving any state agency.
 
Appointments are not required.
  • Adams: Tuesday, February 4 and Tuesday, February 18, from 9 a.m. to noon. Town Hall, 8 Park St., Adams.
  • Great Barrington: Monday, February 3 from 9 a.m. to noon. Town Hall, 334 Main St., Great Barrington.
  • North Adams: Tuesday, February 4 and Tuesday, February 18, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. MCLA
  • Alumni Relations Building, 228 E. Main St., North Adams.
  • Pittsfield: Thursday, February 6th, and Thursday, February 27, from 9 a.m. to noon. District Office. 773
  • Tyler St., Pittsfield. 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Ex-Miss Hall's Head Indicted on Child Endangerment

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A retired leader of Miss Hall's School was indicted Wednesday in Berkshire Superior Court for one count of reckless endangerment of a child related to an investigation into sexual abuse allegations against a teacher. 
 
Jeannie Norris, now living in North Carolina, was head of school at the girls' boarding/day school from 1996 to 2012.
 
Based on evidence collected throughout the active investigation in allegations of abuse that occurred at Miss Hall's, the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office alleges she was aware of inappropriate relationships between a teacher, Matthew Rutledge, and students attending the school. Evidence demonstrates that she received numerous reports of Rutledge's alleged inappropriate conduct, according to the indictment. 
 
Rutledge, 63, was arraigned on rape charges in April of this year. Several women came forward publicly to accuse him of grooming them as teenagers and raping them. The charges also prompted the passage of a bill, authored by state Rep. Leigh Davis, to close the consent loophole by making sexual contact between a person of authority and individual under age 18 a crime. 
 
"Today's indictment is a result of the continued, active investigation into the allegations of abuse that occurred at Miss Hall's School," said DA Timothy Shugrue. "My team of prosecutors, including Massachusetts State Police Detectives and victim witness advocates, are actively working on this case thus far indicting both Matthew Rutledge, a former teacher at Miss Hall's School, and now Jeannie Norris. 
 
"Once again, I encourage anyone with information about potential abuse that occurred at Miss Hall's School to please contact our State Police Detectives."
 
He said his office understands that survivors might be hesitant to speak with law enforcement and share extremely difficult personal experiences. For those who feel hesitant, contact the tip line at 413-449-5055, or BerkshireSPDUtips@mass.gov. Callers can speak with Trooper Dana Clement to simply learn about the process. She, along with her partner Trooper Kyle Jolin, will answer any questions for victims trying to determine if they want to officially move forward or not. 
 
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