Letter: Macksey Is Best Candidate for Mayor

To the Editor:

I am writing this letter in support of Jennifer Macksey for mayor. I have known Jennifer for many years and have followed her career through the years. I saw firsthand the hard work she put in while she worked at City Hall. She was a person that you could go to and ask questions and get answers. When the city was implementing a 401K plan for the first time, Jennifer made sure people had the information they needed to make the proper decisions. She didn't just sit behind her desk at City Hall, she came out to the individual departments and brought the people with the knowledge with her and made sure the members of various departments were informed.

I have followed various letters in support of Jennifer for mayor. It is quite striking that she has received strong support from three different superintendents of schools. These are people of great integrity and all have worked closely with Jennifer. It is clear that they understand that she will work hard to keep our school systems at their best. Education is one of Jennifer's top priorities she will work extremely hard to be sure our schools are the best they can be.

I have also noted the former public safety officials have also thrown their support to Jennifer. I would also like to give my support for Jennifer as a former public safety official. Any time you had a question that needed a answer Jennifer would get you that answer. She was not afraid to step out from behind her desk come to the department and explain whatever you needed answered.

It's clear that the people who really know Jennifer, know the hard work that she has done, and the hard work she is capable of ,are throwing there support to her. These are the people who were in the trenches with Jennifer doing the day-to-day work that needs to be done. People in education, people in public safety, people in municipal government , and people from MCLA. All these individuals have seen the quality person that Jennifer is.

It's clear that with all her knowledge in finance, education, and municipal government that Jennifer is the best candidate for mayor of the city of North Adams. Please join me in voting for Jennifer Macksey for mayor.

Craig W. Millard
North Adams, Mass.

Craig Millard is a retired police director of the city of North Adams. 

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.