Subcommittee Mulls Pittsfield Schools' Cell Phone Policy By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:09AM / Thursday, August 01, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A school official drifted into a "chicken or the egg?" direction regarding the negative implications of cell phones during a policy meeting. "I understand where the cell phone mental health issue is coming from and I do think a lot of it is social media driven," said School Committee member William Garrity, who is two years out of high school.
"As a person who now uses social media, it's just awful and I think that's where a lot of it comes from but I also know I have friends with mental health issues who don't really use social media and so I had this thought, nowadays, more mental health problems are more
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School Officials Looking to Tame Wahconah High 'Jungle'By Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:36AM / Tuesday, July 30, 2024 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School District is creating a plan to address the "absolutely horrible" condition of Wahconah Regional High School's grounds. The parking medians are overgrown with weeds, the rain gardens look like jungles and greenery is invading the spaces around the building's exterior. The state of the school's landscape does not reflect a $72 million school, and residents are concerned, said Dalton resident and Planning Board member Robert Collins said. "They're worried that what they're seeing on the outside is possibly, maybe, happening on the inside, and [if you] get >> Read More |
BCC to Hold New Student Orientation on Aug. 29 | 08:00AM / Friday, July 26, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) will hold a New Student Orientation on Thursday, Aug. 29 from 9 am to 3:15 pm. The free session will be held at Paterson Field House on BCC's main campus, located at 1350 West Street, Pittsfield. To register, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/orientation. Check-in begins at 9 am, followed by a breakfast and welcome remarks. A Resource Fair welcomes students with all the information they need to start the fall semester smoothly. Breakout sessions allow students to engage with the Director of Recreational Services, Student Affairs representatives, BCC technology staff, academic deans and faculty, >> Read More |
School Officials Offer Condolences for Herberg Student's Sudden PassingBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:58PM / Wednesday, July 24, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Herberg Middle School student has been identified as the presumed drowning victim at Benedict Pond in Great Barrington last week. Earl Giver Essien, who would have entered eighth grade in the fall, was remembered for her brightness in personality and academics.
Superintendent Joseph Curtis shared reflections from Herberg staff at the beginning of Monday's School Committee meeting. Faculty say Giver was a remarkable seventh-grade student whose "bright light shone brilliantly in every aspect of her life" and a "diligent rule follower who was structured and always on time."
"She was known for her strong and confident
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Pittsfield Schools May See Tighter Cell Phone PolicyBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:15AM / Wednesday, July 24, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Superintendent Joseph Curtis would like to see the district's cell phone policy tightened up after more than 6,000 violations were accrued during the last school year.
"I think that we do need to do a hard examination of that," he told the School Committee on Monday. "I think that we are in our first year making every attempt to give every student the benefit of the doubt, and family."
This could mean locked cell phone cases — Yondr cases — for middle and high school students or increased regulations.
A three-tiered response plan was approved about a year ago though the superintendent feels that it might be time
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Taconic Principal Tapped for Pittsfield's Deputy SuperintendentBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
03:09PM / Thursday, July 18, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee has tapped Taconic High's principal as the interim deputy superintendent.
Matthew Bishop was voted into the temporary position on Monday during a special meeting of the School Committee. But this may not be the end of his nearly 12-year tenure as a principal.
"I initially didn't apply when [the job posting] came out because I have some things left to do at Taconic, I feel like, and I feel like I want to see that transition through," Bishop said.
He was excited when the opportunity presented itself and could see himself staying in an administrative role if it goes well, explaining "I am going to kind of wait and
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Pittsfield Schools Add 'Transformation & Accountability' PostBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:30AM / Wednesday, July 10, 2024 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The school district's former special education director has been appointed as the assistant superintendent for school transformation and accountability.
The School Committee on Monday unanimously voted Jennifer Stokes into the role. A special meeting was held at the Mercer Administration Building following a formal interview process.
"I'm very honored," she said. "I feel like it's a privilege to be in this position, that the district has put their faith in me to try to make some big changes."
Stokes will lead initiatives for transforming schools that have been designated in need of targeted assistance from the state
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BCC Receives $85K Skills Capital Grant | 08:09AM / Tuesday, July 09, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) has received an $85,000 award as part of the Healey-Driscoll Administration's Skills Capital Grants. The funding, which totals nearly $15 million statewide, supports 65 high schools, colleges and educational institutions to upgrade technology and instructional lab spaces, expand career programs for young people and adults, and increase capacity in workforce training programs. "We want to ensure that what students learn in school helps them get where they want to go, while also meeting our workforce needs," said Governor Maura Healey. "These Skills Capital Grants will ensure our students and adult learners >> Read More |
BMS Announces Talent and Merit Scholarship Recipients| 10:39AM / Sunday, July 07, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Music School is pleased to announce the 2024-2025 Talent and Merit Scholarship recipients. Students who are accepted into the Talent & Merit Scholarship Program benefit from up to 100 percent tuition assistance. This year, BMS awarded almost $17,000 in Talent and Merit Scholarships, and continues to take Need-Based Financial Aid Scholarship applications on a rolling basis. The BMS Scholarship Program, which includes the Talent & Merit Scholarships and the rolling Need-Based Financial Aid Scholarships, remains integral to its mission of allowing students to learn and grow in the Berkshire County region without financial >> Read More |
Pittsfield Schools Assign Placeholder for $200K Budget CutBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
06:17AM / Saturday, June 29, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The school district found a $200,000 cost savings in computer replacements to accommodate the City Council's budget cut.
The School Committee approved an $82,685,277 revised school budget on Wednesday with savings that are "essentially a placeholder." Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Kristen Behnke explained that the amount allotted for hiring may exceed salary totals and could go toward the reduction.
The budget for instructional computer replacements is now $100,000.
"As we bring those staff on board, what we'd like to do is take a look at those. It's possible that we may find some savings in that area and
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