CBRSD Aims to Improve Town Meeting Attendance

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
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DALTON, Mass. — As town meeting season approaches, the Central Berkshire Regional School District aims to lower a barrier to residential participation caused by the lack of child care.
 
District Assistant Superintendent Michael Henault informed the School Committee last week that the district plans to offer child care at Kittredge, Beckett-Washington and Wahconah High schools on voting nights, provided by a combination of National Honor Society students and staff volunteers.
 
"We're organizing that right now … we're going to make it work, make it happen. A survey will go out to see the interest, but we're going to try to take away that barrier," he said. 
 
The committee recently unanimously voted to have Henault take over the superintendent position following the retirement of Leslie Blake-Davis on June 30
 
"I appreciate the thoroughness of the search and aside from setting your budget every year, selecting the superintendent is the biggest responsibility of this committee. Throughout the process, I saw how committed and dedicated all of you were to it, and I'm obviously thrilled by the outcome and ready to go," he said. 
 
"I really appreciate that at the end of the night, the unanimous show of support that really tells me that despite where anybody might stand throughout the process, that we'll be able to work together to really get things done, which is really important."
 
Henault has started the transition process into his new role with the district. 
 
The decision on who to hire for the assistant superintendent is at the discretion of Henault, who appoints someone for the position, said Richard Peters, School Committee chair. 
 
"The School Committee has to approve that appointment, but it's up to the superintendent to put forth candidates. He may do a search; he may not. It's really up to him," Peters said. 
 
The candidates will be discussed during a Personnel subcommittee meeting. 

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
 
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
 
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
 
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
 
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths. 
 
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
 
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
 
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