Local News

Driving Through Mud: How Rural Mass. Schools Are Coping With Rising Transportation Costs

Posted on Friday, April 12th, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Carrie Jung, WBUR
Date: 3/12/2019
Link: Complete Article

It’s hard for rural schools in Massachusetts to get kids to and from class every day — especially now, in muddy season, when the snow has melted and the rain begins. “This is mud and ruts and a mess,” says bus driver Joanne Deady as she points to the narrow, unpaved road on her route… [Read More]

Mohawk to add instruction on Native American history, issues

Posted on Friday, April 12th, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Grace Bird, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 4/11/2019
Link: Complete Article

BUCKLAND — Mohawk Trail Regional School District is planning to incorporate more Native American instruction in its history and social studies courses. There are two main reasons for this renewed push: a new state social studies framework was released last June and the school recently proposed to remove final images of its Native American mascot. “I think this conversation in terms of… [Read More]

Franklin County Tech celebrates revamped welding and metal program

Posted on Saturday, April 6th, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Jennifer Zarate, WWLP.com
Date: 4/45/2019
Link: Complete Article

TURNERS FALLS, Mass (WWLP) – Turners Falls’ Franklin County Technical School celebrated the completion of the school’s newly renovated and modernized Welding and Metal Fabrication program Friday. “We had 50 or 60 people in a small group that were all supporters from the community [who] all work with us and partner with us. It was… [Read More]

Caps and gowns to make a statement at Turners Falls

Posted on Wednesday, April 3rd, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Melina Bourdeau, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 3/28/2019
Link: Complete Article

MONTAGUE – With a unanimous vote from the Gill Montague Regional School Committee, the caps and gowns for Turners Falls High School’s graduating seniors will be blue across the board. The decision was prompted by an appeal by the high school’s chapter of the Bridges for Social Justice program to have one color for all… [Read More]

Pioneer to close Pearl Rhodes

Posted on Wednesday, April 3rd, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Max Marcus, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 3/28/2019
Link: Complete Article

NORTHFIELD — Leyden’s Pearl Rhodes Elementary School is closing at the end of June, the Pioneer Valley Regional School Committee decided last night. Warwick Community School, which the committee has also been thinking about closing, gets another year, for now. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you,” said Warwick Selectboard Chairman Doc Pruyne, on his way out… [Read More]

Fort River art teacher honored for feminist work in the classroom

Posted on Wednesday, March 27th, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Greta Jochem, Hampshire Gazette
Date: 3/27/2019
Link: Complete Article

AMHERST — Every year, second graders at Fort River Elementary School work on underwater sea drawings in art class. Amid sketching fish and seaweed, art teacher Nicole Singer, who is in her sixth year at the school, said she will hear student conversation about boy-colored fish and girl-colored fish. That’s when she intervenes, asking students questions that… [Read More]

Easthampton fourth-graders launch campaign against car idling

Posted on Monday, March 25th, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Luis Feldman, Hampshire Gazette
Date: 3/25/2019
Link: Complete Article

EASTHAMPTON — In the afternoons, parents line their cars in front of Maple Elementary School to pick up their children. To find out how much pollution idling cars are spewing into the atmosphere, you don’t have to ask a scientist. You can ask a fourth-grader. Over the course of two days, students at the elementary… [Read More]

Mahar students learn a new way to communicate: sign language

Posted on Tuesday, March 19th, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: David McLellan, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 3/18/2019
Link: Complete Article

RANGE — It was a chilly March day, and four Mahar students got together after school to do what many friends would — share snacks, chat about their lives and unwind after a long day. A local boy — boyfriend maybe? — bought one of their younger sisters some ice cream; math class has been… [Read More]

Money for vet program proposed in Tech budget

Posted on Monday, March 18th, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Domenic Poli, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 3/18/2019

TURNERS FALLS — Adoption of the proposed $11.7 million budget voted by the Franklin County Technical School Committee last week would fund a teacher and $30,000 for start-up equipment and supplies for a new veterinary animal sciences program at the school. The fiscal 2020 budget book explains the Tech School has applied to the state… [Read More]

Orange pushing ahead for more state school aid

Posted on Saturday, March 16th, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Dvid McLellan, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 3/15/2019
Link: Complete Article

ORANGE — With talks of a potential property tax override, underfunded special education and high school costs, Orange is making a plea to the state for more money. The Orange Selectboard, Finance Committee and Elementary School Committee have now all endorsed an effort, headed by Finance Committee member Kathy Reinig, to pressure the state to give… [Read More]