Berkshire United Way to Massachusetts: Early-Learning Educators Need Better WagesBy Katherine von Haefen , Guest Column
02:04PM / Wednesday, August 14, 2024 | |
 As reported in iBerkshires, state education officials met with Western Massachusetts childcare and early education advocates at Berkshire Community College recently. I had the opportunity to share the following testimony on behalf of Berkshire United Way and our community partners. Early childhood education provides tremendous benefits to our region. High-quality child care dramatically influences brain development and the future health and success for children in school and life, as well as provides a safe and secure space for our youngest community members so their parents or caregivers can work and provide for their families. Berkshire United Way has invested in >> Read More |
BCC's EMT Training Course Fills Need in Berkshire County | 10:48AM / Monday, August 12, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass — Berkshire Community College (BCC) reports that of the 13 students who completed its Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training, nine took the required psychomotor test, and all nine passed the exam. Once they pass the written exam, they will be ready for immediate employment as EMTs in Berkshire County, filling an urgent workforce need. EMTs work alongside paramedics to help assess injuries, provide emergency medical care and transfer patients to medical facilities. A psychomotor test measures proficiency in hands-on skills, including patient assessment and management, ventilatory assistance, oxygen administration, cardiac arrest >> Read More |
Super Explains Changes in Pittsfield Schools' Central OfficeBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:28AM / Monday, August 12, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With a new school year looming, Superintendent Joseph Curtis has explained staffing changes in the central office.
The fiscal year 2025 budget said goodbye to the deputy superintendent and director of curriculum positions. Last month, the district's former special education director Jennifer Stokes was appointed assistant superintendent for school transformation and accountability and former Taconic High School principal Matthew Bishop was tapped as the interim deputy superintendent.
Eyebrows were raised, as the position was eliminated for this fiscal year.
"Unfortunately, the interview committee did not feel confident advancing any candidate for
>> Read More |
Pittsfield: UNCO Chapter Awards Scholarships| 10:46AM / Wednesday, August 07, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Chapter of UNICO National held its scholarship awards ceremony on July 23 at the Italian American Club. Since 1987 UNCO has awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships to students from Berkshire County high schools. This year The UNICO Scholarship Committee, chaired by Julia Salatino, awarded $19,000 in scholarships to local high school graduates who are continuing their post secondary education. Alexandra Bills of Wahconah RHS received the The Gloria Powers Scholarship. The daughter of Mark and Teresa Bills, she will be attending UMass Amherst, Isenberg School of Management. Dominic Carnevale of Mt. Greylock RHS >> Read More |
CBRSD Mulls Vocational Transport in Regional AgreementBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:45AM / Tuesday, August 06, 2024 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School District is considering adding vocational transportation to the draft regional agreement. School Committee Chair Richard Peters said at last month's meeting that the district received an email from Cummington inquiring if it could add vocational transportation to its regional agreement, similar to what is happening in the Mohawk Trail Hawlemont Regional School District. "[The Mohawk District] actually documented in the regional agreement that the school district arranges the transportation for the students going to vocation for the towns. And then we bill the towns for that transportation," >> Read More |
Pittsfield UNICO Awards 2024 Scholarships| 01:40PM / Friday, August 02, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Chapter of UNICO National held its scholarship awards ceremony on July 23 at the Italian American Club. Since 1987 UNCO has awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships to students from Berkshire County high schools. The UNICO Scholarship Committee, chaired by Julia Salatino, awarded $19,000 in scholarships this year to local high school graduates who are continuing their postsecondary education. of Wahconah Regional High School received the the Gloria Powers Scholarship. The daughter of Mark and Teresa Bills, she will be attending the University of Massachusetts at Amherst's Isenberg School of Management. of >> Read More |
Fall Semester at BCC Begins Sept. 3| 08:12AM / Friday, August 02, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The fall semester at Berkshire Community College (BCC) begins Tuesday, Sept. 3. Applications are being accepted now. Learning options at BCC include in-person, online and hybrid classes. Prospective students may view an admission checklist and apply, browse a course catalogue, file a financial aid form or schedule a tour by visiting www.berkshirecc.edu/fall or by walking in without an appointment to the One Stop Enrollment Center. There, applications are processed for instant acceptance to the College. Advisors are on hand to answer questions and to assist with financial aid. For more information, call (413) 499-4660 or >> Read More |
BCC Names Spring Dean's List Students | 08:00AM / Thursday, August 01, 2024 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announced it has named 391 students to the spring 2024 dean's list. To be eligible for the dean's list, students must achieve a GPA of 3.750 to 4.000 to earn high honors, while students with a GPA of 3.250 to 3.749 earn an honors designation. All dean's list students must be matriculated in a certificate or degree program; complete a minimum of six traditionally graded credit hours, and achieve grades of C or higher in all classes during a semester of one academic year. The following 190 students qualified for high honors: East Canaan: Benyamin >> Read More |
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 |
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