Letter: Elect Lynette Bond for Mayor

To the editor:

"All politics is local" … I'll speak to that later.

As the former mayor of the City of North Adams, I vowed that I would not get involved again in local politics but I am very willing to go out on a limb here and say that in January 2022, the city will be swearing in its first woman mayor. With four candidates, all women, the city is well-positioned for new leadership, new vision, a new approach to the administration and delivery of city services, as well as growth and problem solving through collaboration. I fully believe that Lynette Bond is the woman who can and will provide that leadership.

One of the wonderful successes that I had as mayor was the renovation of the former Conte Middle School into Colegrove Park Elementary School. This effort was brought to a public vote for approval and if not for Lynette's support, advocacy, and voice, Colegrove would not have come to fruition. Additionally, as mayor, I was able to reach out to local communities to work with the city on a variety of issues.

Lynette worked in the Community Development Office for the Town of Adams and our paths crossed many times. We discussed the economic opportunities we had in common such as the bike path and the Berkshire Scenic Rail. In her role with the town, Lynette managed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) dollars. She worked to see that the streetscape project on Park Street and the roundabout projects were funded, designed and built. Lynette has and continues to serve on the city's Planning Board and with that she has had a role in the approval process of many new businesses that have opened in the city. Lynette is an exceptional grant writer and in that role she has had direct contact and built relationships with Massachusetts Department of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM), Department of Housing and Community Development (CDBG), the Department of Higher Education (DHE), and the Department of Early and Secondary Education (DESE).

Since moving to North Adams some 12 years ago, Lynette has infused herself into the community on the Planning Board, as a parent and foster parent, a member of the board of Child Care of the Berkshires, as a coach and mentor, and even a host family for our beloved SteepleCats.

Dick Alcombright
North Adams, Mass.

Clarksburg Students Write in Support of Rural School Aid

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
07:25AM / Sunday, March 15, 2026

Mason Langenback calculated that Clarksburg would get almost $1 million if the $60 million was allocated equally.

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — Eighth-graders at Clarksburg School took a lesson in civic advocacy this week, researching school funding and writing letters to Beacon Hill that call for fully funding rural school aid. 

 

The students focused on the hardships for small rural schools and their importance to the community — that they struggle with limited funding and teacher shortages, but offer safe and supportive spaces for learning and are a hub for community connections.

 

"They all address the main issue, the funding for rural schools, and how there's a gap, and there's the $4 million gap this year, and then it's about the $40 million next year, and that rural schools need that equitable funding," said social studies teacher Mark Karhan.

 

A rural schools report in 2022 found smaller school districts cost from nearly 17 percent to 23 percent more to operate, and recommended "at least" $60 million be appropriated annually for rural school aid. 

 

Gov. Maura Healey has filed for more Chapter 70 school aid, but that often is little help to small rural schools with declining or static enrollment. For fiscal 2027, she's budgeted $20 million for rural schools, up from around $13 million this year but still far below the hoped for $60 million. 

 

Karhan said the class was broken into four groups and the students were provided a submission letter from Rural Schools Advocacy. The students used the first paragraph, which laid out the funding facts, and then did research and wrote their own letters. 

 

They will submit those with a school picture to the governor.