Local News

Hinds and Blais say launch of Rural Schools Commission ‘a big win’ for region

Posted on Thursday, May 13th, 2021 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Anita Fritz, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 5/12/2021
Link: Complete Article

GREENFIELD — State Sen. Adam Hinds and state Rep. Natalie Blais recently chaired the first meeting of the state’s Rural Schools Commission, and they expect that the body will have recommendations by the end of the year for how to permanently fund rural school districts. The commission is tasked with identifying long-term solutions to the… [Read More]

Kristen Smidy named Gateway Regional School District superintendent

Posted on Friday, April 16th, 2021 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Bera Denau, Daily Hampshire Gazette
Date: 4/8/2021
Link: Complete Article

HUNTINGTON — The Gateway Regional District School Committee has named Kristen Smidy, the principal of Hampshire Regional High School, as the district’s next superintendent. The committee voted 11-1 on Wednesday to offer Smidy the job. She was one of four finalists for the position chosen from among a pool of 22 applicants and eight semifinalists…. [Read More]

Diana Bonneville named Hampshire Regional School District’s new superintendent

Posted on Wednesday, March 31st, 2021 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Jacquelyn Voghel, Hampshire Daily Gazette
Date: 3/31/2021
Link: Complete Article

WESTHAMPTON — The Hampshire Regional School District’s school committees have selected Diana Bonneville, currently the interim superintendent of South Hadley Public Schools, as the district’s next superintendent. Pending contract negotiations, Bonneville will take over the role currently filled on a temporary basis by interim superintendent Michael Sullivan, who was selected to fill this position last… [Read More]

The Amherst Mobile Market finishes first year, planning for the future

Posted on Tuesday, March 23rd, 2021 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Martha Maloney, Collaborative for Educational Services
Date: March 23, 2021

After two years of planning, the Amherst Mobile Market had a very successful first year, closing out the series of weekly markets in October, 2020. The market met initial goals and received strong feedback from participants to begin planning for future seasons. Working to fulfill nutritional needs while reducing transportation and distribution gaps felt by… [Read More]

Pioneer Valley Regional School’s virtual play to premiere Thursday

Posted on Friday, January 8th, 2021 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Zack DeLuca, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 1/4/2021
Link: Complete Article

NORTHFIELD — Instead of taking to the stage, Pioneer Valley Regional School students will take to the screen for Thursday’s online premiere of “Infinite Sound and Furious Jest,” an original school production. “Infinite Sound and Furious Jest” can be viewed on Facebook at fb.me/e/1VNJJliUQ at 8 p.m. The play will be live streamed via the Bernardston Northfield… [Read More]

Amherst Middle School After School VELA program continues with strong remote format

Posted on Monday, January 4th, 2021 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Martha Maloney, Collaborative for Educational Services
Date: 1/4/2021

When Covid 19 closed schools this past spring, the Amherst Middle School VELA After School program quickly moved to provide the program remotely to support students and the school community. That support, and the educational and fun activities that the VELA program provides, have all continued into the Fall with homework assistance and a variety… [Read More]

South Hadley school board picks N.H. superintendent for schools chief

Posted on Monday, November 23rd, 2020 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Bera Dunau, Hampshire Daily Gazette
Date: 11/20/2020
Link: Complete Article

SOUTH HADLEY — The School Committee voted unanimously Friday night to offer the superintendent position to Jahmal Mosley, the superintendent of schools in Nashua, New Hampshire, pending successful contract negotiations. “Dr. Jahmal Mosley is one of the most impressive people I have ever interviewed,” said School Committee Chair Kyle Belanger. Mosley was one of three… [Read More]

Mental health challenges for students topic of summit

Posted on Thursday, November 19th, 2020 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Mary Byrne, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 11/18/2020
Link: Complete Article

School and mental health professionals met Wednesday morning for the Safe and Healthy School Summit for a discussion on ways to mediate the mental health challenges faced by students in the community. “So much has changed since we first started planning this,” said Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan, noting that when they began a year… [Read More]

William Diehl, Executive Director of the Collaborative for Educational Services, to Retire

Posted on Thursday, October 22nd, 2020 by Collaborative for Educational Services

William Diehl, Ed.D. will retire on December 31st, 2020, from the post of Executive Director of the Collaborative for Educational Services (CES). Dr. Diehl has been the Executive Director of CES, the largest Massachusetts educational collaborative, since 2014, after joining the agency as Deputy Director in 2010. CES directs major direct service initiatives in Early… [Read More]

Greenfield’s Federal Street School teacher plans gardening curriculum for English language learners

Posted on Tuesday, September 8th, 2020 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Anita Fritz, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 9/8/20202
Link: Complete Article

GREENFIELD — José Colón Martínez headed up the hill behind the Leyden Woods office building last week holding an umbrella overhead and donning a huge smile. José, 9, a fourth-grader at Federal Street School, and Daiangeliss Mercado, 8, a third-grader there, are among the English-as-a-second-language learners participating in teacher Karen Malley’s gardening project. “Wait until… [Read More]