Letter: Support Bond for Mayor

To the Editor:

Dear North Adams friends, I have been following the campaigns for the office of mayor of North Adams and the City Council races from my home in North Carolina. I was moved to send a letter of support for Lynette Bond after seeing a letter sent out by Jennifer Macksey's campaign, which stated that if you like what has happened in North Adams government the past 12 years Jennifer Macksey is not your candidate.

Since I was part of that government for six years, I feel a need to respond this way: What defined our government during the time I served was a willingness to be open and transparent in notable contrast to what came before.

So I feel a need to speak up! This summer when I was home, I met with Lynette Bond. I was impressed that she brings a very diverse life experience to the table as well as a very positive energy. I like her visibility and engagement with the citizens of North Adams including serving as a foster parent, leading the successful fight to save the Colegrove School, and serving on city boards. I see her as a team player who will make an excellent ambassador for the city of North Adams.

North Adams needs a mayor who will represent the people who vote for her and the people who vote against her. As you go to the voting booth on Tuesday, Nov. 2, I would urge my friends and supporters to vote for Lynette Bond.

Nancy Bullett
Newport, N.C.

Nancy Bullett is a former 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.