The CES Newsroom

rural schools

Education Dept. Reverses Plan to Cut Rural School Funding

Posted on Tuesday, March 10th, 2020 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Erica Green, New York Times
Date: 3/4/2020
Link: Complete Article

WASHINGTON — Facing a bipartisan backlash led by Republican lawmakers, the Trump administration is backing off a bookkeeping change that would have drastically cut federal funds for rural schools – at least for a year. Betsy DeVos, the education secretary, will allow states to more easily qualify for funding under the Rural and Low-Income School… [Read More]

More state aid for rural schools this year

Posted on Friday, August 23rd, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Anita Fritz, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 8/22/2019
Link: Complete Article

Sen. Adam Hinds asked for and received $1 million more from the state’s Rural School Aid grant program this year, increasing the budget to $2.5 million and leaving superintendentsthroughout Franklin County waiting to see just how much of the pie they’ll get. “The fight for equal opportunity through education means we need to ensure all… [Read More]

Last day for Pearl Rhodes brings joy, sadness: Institution closing for final time

Posted on Tuesday, June 18th, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: David McLellan, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 6/14/2019
Link: Complete Article

LEYDEN — It was the last day of school Friday, and students’ summers began. But even with the school’s-out excitement, there was a feeling of sadness among teachers, parents and children still at Pearl Rhodes a few minutes after the school day ended because this was the last day for Pearl Rhodes Elementary School. “It’s… [Read More]

Rep. Blais takes the bus to bring awareness about funding, ride times for students

Posted on Wednesday, May 15th, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Anita Fritz, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 5/15/2019
Link: Complete Article

Rep. Natalie Blais wanted to better understand what children endure to get to and from school each day, so she did what seemed most logical — she got on a bus with them. The 1st Franklin District Democrat from Sunderland recently rode from Chesterfield to Hampshire Regional High School to raise awareness about the amount of time children in… [Read More]

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]

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]

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]

Stretched too thin: Rural school districts go on the offensive for legislative help

Posted on Sunday, March 3rd, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Greta Jochem, Hampshire Gazette
Date: 3/2/2019
Link: Complete Article

CHESTERFIELD — As the state eyes changing the way it funds public education, rural schools are asking that the law take into account the unique challenges their districts face and establish rural school aid. The Massachusetts Rural Schools Coalition, led by Michael Buoniconti, the superintendent of the Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont Regional School districts, went… [Read More]

Students to ask state for more education funds

Posted on Tuesday, February 12th, 2019 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Grace Bird, Max Marcus, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 2/11/2019
Link: Complete Article

Students and educators from seven Pioneer Valley school districts are going to Boston on Feb. 28 to ask state lawmakers to increase funding for rural schools. The students were supposed to go this week, but the trip was postponed due to inclement weather. The group has one main request: that legislators add a “rurality factor” to… [Read More]

State Senate OKs rural school aid for county districts

Posted on Friday, May 25th, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Diane Broncaccio, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 5/24/2018
Link: Complete Article

After years of state, school and town officials beating the drum for rural school aid, rural districts, including Mohawk, Frontier, Pioneer Valley, and the 19 member-town Franklin County Technical School District, could see $100 per student in rural school aid from the state. Sen. Adam G. Hinds, D-Pittsfield, said Wednesday that the state Senate adopted… [Read More]