BOSTON — The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) awarded North Adams Public Schools $300,000 to support the Greylock Elementary School project.
North Adams Public Schools will use the $300,000 in funding to help cover the cost difference between ground-source heat pumps and conventional HVAC at their newly built Greylock Elementary School, serving PreK through 2nd grades.
"Investing in clean energy to modernize our schools is one of the smartest steps we can take to create healthier, safer learning environments for our students and educators," said Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "By improving energy efficiency, we lower costs, reduce harmful pollution, and free up valuable resources to support teachers and educational programs. This is an investment in our buildings, the future of our communities, and the well-being of the next generation."
The state awarded over $52 million in grants to help upgrade public school facilities through the Green School Works program.
Funded through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), the program aims to make K–12 public school buildings more energy-efficient, lower costs for school districts, reduce pollution, and create safer and healthier learning environments for students and educators.
The program will fund 18 projects across Massachusetts to modernize energy systems while investing in the well-being of communities. Each project benefits student populations where at least 40 percent of the students come from low-income backgrounds, with many of them located in environmental justice communities that have historically lacked access to building upgrades and infrastructure investment.
"The Green School Works funding is going to 18 schools across Massachusetts, from North Adams to Barnstable, highlighting our commitment to supporting public school districts with the tools they need to create safe, healthy, and high-quality learning environments for students and educators. At a time when the federal government is trying to cut education funding for heat pumps and ventilation, I am proud that Massachusetts is investing in programs like this," said Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler.
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Weekend Outlook: Mother's Day & More
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
Check out the events happening this weekend including fishing, plays, and more.
Final weekend to walk the grounds of Naumkeag and see the thousands of flowering bulbs. Timed tickets must be purchased in advance and will not be sold on-site.
'Big Fish'
Taconic High School, Pittsfield
May 8, 9, 14, 15,16. Times vary at 2 and 7 p.m.
The Taconic Theater department stages "Big Fish," a musical about son who goes on an adventure to find the truth about his father's wild and unbelievable stories.
'The Prom Musical'
Berkshire Community College
Showings Friday through Sunday
A small-town prom is getting too much attention when a student wants to bring her girlfriend as a date. A troupe of Broadway stars arrive in the conservative community out on a mission to help in this musical comedy.
Baby Animals
Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield
Time: 11 to 4, through May 10
A sure sign of spring is the arrival of baby animals at Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield. See lambs, piglets, calves, chicks and kids and enjoy events and activities throughout the Village, from daily talks about the farm and the Shakers to craft demonstrations to walks along the Farm & Forest Trail.
Admission is $8 to $20, free for children 12 and younger. More information here.
Friday
Night of Dreams Fundraising Gala: Berkshire Dream Center
Berkshire Hills Country Club, Pittsfield
Time: 6 to 9 p.m.
This annual gala is a major fundraiser for the nonprofit Berkshire Dream Center. Enjoy dinner, music, a silent auction, and more.
Mass Kids Lit Fest
Berkshire Athenaeum, Pittsfield
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Children's author Carol Munro will do a "Springtime Storks" storytime, based on a true story of resilience and love between two migrating birds. Children will have the chance to create their own stork hand puppets and learn more about storks.
Local historian and Historical Commission Chair Dustin Griffin will speak on the politics and leaders of Williamstown at the start of the Revolution. The museum is at 32 New Ashford Road.
Waste treatment plan supervisor Brad Furlon warned the Finance Committee last week to expect a future 500 percent increase in sludge disposal.
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The fund had grown immensely over the past 25 years, raising some $1.75 million during that period. But the 1960s would see the fund grow even more in both fundraising and the agencies it supported. click for more