BCC President Ellen Kennedy to Retire at Conclusion of Academic Year | 09:54AM / Tuesday, September 09, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ellen Kennedy will retire as seventh president of Berkshire Community College at the end of the academic year. The college made the announcement on Tuesday. Kennedy has been president since 2012. In a message to the campus community, Kennedy emphasized that the decision comes after deep reflection and is guided by both professional and personal considerations. "Looking ahead, the college will soon embark on the development of a new Strategic Plan and prepare for its 2029 [New England Commission of Higher Education] NECHE Self-Study," Kennedy said in the announcement. "Both efforts represent significant opportunities >> Read More |
Plan for Merging Pittsfield's Elementary Zones TabledBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:25AM / Friday, September 05, 2025 | |
The current elementary zones. PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The School Committee is not ready to adopt an elementary school reorganization plan that moves Stearns students into the proposed Crosby/Conte building.
On Wednesday, it tabled a long-term, three-zone elementary plan that assumes the Stearns population will be a part of a new school on West Street as early as 2029.
The city has to determine the building's size, based on enrollments, in its quest for funding from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. Officials say the MSBA also wants to see how the consolidation of the West Side fits into larger plans for the district.
Based on the
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Pittsfield School Building Commission Welcomes New Superintendent By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:40AM / Thursday, September 04, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The academic year has begun with a new superintendent of the Pittsfield Public Schools and the same focus on a couple of big projects.
Interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips was appointed as co-chair of the School Building Needs Commission on Tuesday, and commissioners looked to the future of the Crosby/Conte proposal.
Phillips stepped into the position on July 1 and has since met with the Massachusetts School Building Authority to discuss enrollment numbers.
"That is ongoing work. We intend to finalize the enrollment numbers at the end of October," she reported.
"And it was shared with us that once that number is
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Create an Ad: MyCom Federal Credit UnionBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
07:16AM / Saturday, August 30, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Ahead of their summer vacation, second grade students at Stearns Elementary School participated in our Junior Marketers Create an Ad series. In their ads, students drew items people dream of having from cars, trucks, motorcycles, dirt bikes, and boats, demonstrating MyCom Federal Credit Union’s commitment to help individuals achieve their financial goals. MyCom Federal Credit Union, located at 101 Fenn St., works with Berkshire County community members to foster financial education and serve its members, helping them meet their financial needs. "Our mission is people helping people. We are there to grow our >> Read More |
BCC Announces the Return of the Chorale | 09:17AM / Thursday, August 21, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announced the return of the BCC Chorale, led by Professor of Music Ellen Shanahan. The Chorale had been discontinued a few years ago when the College consolidated its for-credit jazz and choral ensembles into a single group. Now, thanks to renewed interest from students and community members, Professor Shanahan is bringing the Chorale back in a new form — as a non-credit, volunteer group open to BCC students, alumni, staff, and members of the broader community. "I am resurrecting the BCC Chorale, which was a staple on campus for decades," said Shanahan. "I have since heard >> Read More |
Report: Miss Hall's Failed to Act on Abuse ReportsBy Staff Reports, iBerkshires
04:12PM / Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A report commissioned by Miss Hall's School found school officials failed for years to follow up on accusations of sexual misconduct by its instructors. The full report, summary from the Board of Trustees and a letter to the school community from Head of School Julia Heaton and board President Nancy Ault can be found here. "The Report makes clear that, over the decades, there were multiple instances in which students were harmed and that MHS failed to investigate adequately or hold perpetrators accountable for their actions," reads a summary of the report released by the board of trustees on Tuesday. "We >> Read More |
Pittsfield School Committee Updates Social Media Policy By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
06:03AM / Tuesday, August 19, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The school district updated its staff use of social media and personal cell phones policy. "We've had full cooperation with the teachers bargaining unit leadership, the [Pittsfield Educational Administrators Association,] that is the administrators, and the federation," School Committee Chair William Cameron said. "I think everyone in a leadership position in those organizations recognizes the potential for serious problems, unless the expectations of this policy are implemented." The school unions are the PEAA, United Educators of Pittsfield and Pittsfield Federation of School >> Read More |
Students Have a Blast at Rocket CampBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
07:18AM / Saturday, August 16, 2025 | |
Flying Cloud education coordinator Christian Drake leads the camp through some engineering and scientific principles on Wednesday at the Berkshire Innovation Center. More photos here. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Learners had a literal blast this week during Flying Cloud Institute's Rocket Camp. During a four-day workshop, students collaborated with volunteer David Doyle and education coordinator Christian Drake to explore scientific concepts and, of course, build rockets. In three days, the students learned about the engineering behind rockets, propulsion, aerodynamics, space, and more. "I believe rocketry is an excellent way to teach kids >> Read More |
Berkshire Wind Power Cooperative Awards Scholarships| 10:59AM / Thursday, August 14, 2025 | |
LUDLOW, Mass. — The Berkshire Wind Power Cooperative Corporation (BWPCC) has selected two students from the Lanesborough/Hancock area, one from the Mount Greylock Regional High School class of 2025 and one from the McCann Technical School class of 2025, to receive $1,000 scholarships. The scholarships are awarded to qualifying seniors at select schools in the Berkshires who are planning to attend either a two- or four-year college or trade school program. This is the third year of the BWPCC scholarship program. The BWPCC owns and operates the Berkshire Wind Power Project, a 12-turbine, 19.6-megawatt wind farm located on Brodie Mountain in Hancock and Lanesborough. >> Read More |
BCC to Hold Auditions for 'A Winter's Tale' | 10:52AM / Sunday, August 10, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Community College Players will hold auditions for its fall show, Shakespeare's "A Winter's Tale," on Thursday, Sept. 18 and Friday, Sept. 19 from 6:30-9 p.m. Auditions will be held in the Boland Theatre on BCC's main campus, located at 1350 West Street, Pittsfield. According to a press release: "A Winter's Tale," written in the early 1600s, is the classic story of jealousy, redemption, and the passage of time. Set in Sicilia, the play begins with King Leontes wrongly accusing his wife Hermione of infidelity with his childhood friend and Bohemian king, Polixenes. Possessed with >> Read More |
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