Letter: Jennifer Macksey For Mayor

To the Editor:

In the nearly 40 years I've lived in North Adams — first as a student at North Adams State College and then making my home here with my wife — I've found mayoral politics to be divisive and full of mudslinging. I was always left to decide between the lesser of two evils. Or, the lesser of who cares.

When Mayor Bernard announced he would not be seeking re-election various people with little-to-no experience took out nomination papers to replace him. It was discouraging to see the quality of candidate it appeared we could be looking at as the city's next chief executive.

Things improved when Jennifer Macksey entered the race. She is someone with the experience who can walk into the corner office on Day One, roll up her sleeves and get to work. She has previously worked in many capacities for the city from working herself up from the Transfer Station to treasurer/collector of the city. She's worked at both the employee and management levels.

The mayor is also chairman of the North Adams Public School Committee. Jennifer's background at the Northern Berkshire School Union, Southern Vermont College and MCLA give her a great background to look at the needs of our schools — not just the buildings and students but also the needs of the teachers, teacher assistants and paraprofessionals who educate them. She can work to make sure we do everything possible to attract the best professionals to our schools to educate our future generations and future leaders.

Jennifer is open to ideas, willing to listen and easy to talk with. Gone are the days of mudslinging campaigns. The choice is clear and simple. I ask everyone to join me on Nov. 2 and vote for Jennifer Macksey as the next mayor of North Adams.

Paul Moriarty
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.