Letter: Lynette Bond Is My Candidate

To the Editor:

In a recent fund-raising campaign letter to supporters, the Jennifer Macksey for Mayor Committee wrote, "If people are happy with how the city has been run over the past 12 years Jennifer Macksey ISN'T their candidate."

I say ... If you like the way the city has run the past 12 years, Lynette Bond IS your candidate. If you don't like the way the city has run the past 12 years, Lynette Bond IS your candidate. If you liked or disliked any of the past mayors, Lynette Bond IS your candidate.

She will work for all of you despite who you supported, if you were born here or moved here yesterday, knew her in school or just met her. If you are a resident of North Adams, she IS your candidate, as all on the ballot should be, because if elected they should serve all of us instead of just those who supported them or their boss.

Despite having good relations with former and current North Adams mayors, Lynette believes all have pros and cons, and doesn't wish to be a stand-in for any of them, referring to John Barrett III calling Macksey his "alter ego."

Lynette is her own woman with her own style of leadership, never being an apprentice or having a career tied to any former mayor, making her a new face in City Hall with new energy to move old projects forward and develop fresh ideas. Lynette Bond is "for the future of North Adams" unlike being stuck in the past.

We need a mayor who doesn't see this city as those who supported John Barrett III prior to 12 years ago and those who didn't. The "you are with me, or against me" mentality is getting old and needs to stop, and not healthy for our small city even a little. We may not be able to convince everyone but having a leader who looks at us as one community instead of dividing us is a good start.

Keith Bona
North Adams, Mass. 

Keith Bona is a North Adams city councilor. 

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.