The CES Newsroom

rural schools

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]

Rural schools to push for millions more in state aid

Posted on Thursday, January 25th, 2018 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Diane Broncaccio, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 1/24/2018
Link: Complete Article

BUCKLAND — Hoping to boost state money to rural school districts by about $9.5 million, educators at the Massachusetts Rural Schools Coalition voted unanimously Wednesday to back a proposal for aid in the coming budget. They also directed Coalition Chairman Michael Buoniconti to work with state Sen. Stan Rosenberg to put the school aid request… [Read More]

Combined school district management proposed

Posted on Friday, December 29th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Domenic Poli, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 12/29/2017
Link: Complete Article

ORANGE — The superintendent of schools for Ralph C. Mahar Regional School and Union 73 has proposed an agreement between the three school districts she oversees and the Pioneer Valley Regional School District to share administrative services as a way to save money. The four districts would share a superintendent and director of finance, under… [Read More]

Pioneer begins looking outside the box with supt. search

Posted on Tuesday, October 24th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Shelby Ashline, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 10/20/2017
Link: Complete Article

NORTHFIELD — In their first meeting to discuss replacing Superintendent Ruth Miller, Pioneer Valley Regional School District’s Superintendent Search Committee decided to scope out the possibility of sharing administrators with another school district. The search committee was formed as a result of Miller’s June announcement that she won’t be looking to negotiate a new contract… [Read More]

Northfield Elementary sees uptick in enrollment, adds teacher

Posted on Friday, September 8th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Shelby Ashline, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 9/7/2017
Link: Complete Article

NORTHFIELD — When preparing this school year’s budget, Northfield Elementary School Principal Megan Desmarais was anticipating another year with declining enrollment, a steady trend for more than a decade. But as enrollment numbers took shape in August, Desmarais was surprised to see the slightest increase. The school currently has 188 students in pre-K through sixth… [Read More]

Pearl Rhodes principal resigns, Bernardston principal takes over

Posted on Friday, September 1st, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Shelby Ashline, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 8/31/2017
Link: Complete Article

LEYDEN — Bernardston Elementary School Principal Bob Clancy is taking on a new role this year, doubling as Pearl Rhodes Elementary School’s principal in neighboring Leyden. Clancy stepped in to replace former principal Deanna Leblanc, who announced last month she accepted another job and would not return for the 2017-2018 school year. Though efforts to… [Read More]

Rural schools seek grant for shared services

Posted on Saturday, July 29th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Diane Broncaccio, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 7/27/2017
Link: Complete Article

BUCKLAND — A common problem for small, rural school districts is that professional services may be needed for a fraction of the time that bigger school systems require.This means small schools have to find qualified personnel willing to take on part-time jobs for lower pay and benefits. But what if several small school systems could… [Read More]

Fond farewell: Bittersweet final day at Cheshire Elementary

Posted on Tuesday, June 27th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Adam Shanks, Berkshire Eagle
Date: 6/27/2017
Link: Complete Article

CHESHIRE, MA — Principal Peter Bachli ended the day with an unusual announcement over the school’s public address system: “Thanks for the memories.” Barring a last-minute change of plans, Cheshire Elementary School will not reopen next school year, making Tuesday the final day of classes in a school that has been the center of a… [Read More]

‘It’s my favorite school in the whole world’: Kids bid farewell to Heath School

Posted on Monday, June 26th, 2017 by Collaborative for Educational Services

Source: Diane Broncaccio, Greenfield Recorder
Date: 6/23/2017
Link: Complete Article

HEATH — The child chatter in the half-filled cafeteria on the last day of school was seemingly cheery, until you asked if they were looking forward to their summer vacation. One little girl hesitated, then nodded her head. “Yes,” she said solemnly. “But I’m sad to leave this school.” “I’m sad that the school is… [Read More]