The CES Newsroom

rural schools

Commission wants $60M for rural school districts

Posted on Monday, July 18th, 2022 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Matt Martinez, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 7/12/2022
Link: Complete Article

A state commission called Tuesday for a major funding increase of at least $60 million for rural school districts, money its members say is needed to address issues with transportation, declining enrollment, and costs related to school choice and special education. The recommendation, adopted at the Special Commission on Rural School Districts’ final meeting, would… [Read More]

Rural Schools Roundtable emphasizes funding difficulties for area’s rural schools

Posted on Friday, September 24th, 2021 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Chris Larabee, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 9/23/2021
Link: Complete Article

BUCKLAND — State legislators, school administrators and town officials convened at Mohawk Trail Regional School Thursday morning for a Rural Schools Roundtable to discuss funding challenges Pioneer Valley schools are facing as enrollment dwindles. Superintendents and school committees from the Mohawk Trail, Hampshire, Athol-Royalston, Erving Union 28 and Gill-Montague school districts highlighted the reduction of… [Read More]

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]

New supt. of Mohawk Trail, Hawlemont districts hopes to be strong advocate for rural education

Posted on Monday, July 6th, 2020 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Mary Byrne, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 7/6/2020
Link: Complete Article

BUCKLAND — Sheryl Stanton, the new superintendent of Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont Regional school districts, may never have found a career in education if it h a d n’t been for a college course mix-up and a teacher who made a difference. “I mis-registered for a class,” she said, laughing. “It was a combination of… [Read More]

When Your Remote Classroom Is Your Car: How Some Rural Students Without Broadband Are Connecting

Posted on Friday, May 8th, 2020 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Carrie Jung, WBUR
Date: 5/8/2020
Link: Complete Article

Even though school is closed, on a given day there are about a dozen cars lined up in the parking lot of Sanderson Academy in Ashfield with people using the school’s WiFi. Natalie Szewczyk is one of them. The 18-year-old has turned her Toyota Corolla into a mobile work station. “I stay in my driver’s… [Read More]

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]