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April Storm Could Bring Snow, High Winds and Power Outages

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We were hoping it was just an April fool or that it would go away if we ignored it. But it looks like we really are getting snow, sleet and rain over the next few days. 
 
The National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., has issued a winter storm watch beginning Wednesday morning through Thursday night. 
 
North Berkshire and Southern Vermont could see up to 7 inches of snow and sleet and high winds gusting up to 60 mph. 
 
The NWS has "low to moderate" confidence in the snow accumulations but says travel could be difficult and strong winds and the heavy wet snow could mean downed tree branches and power lines. 
 
Accuweather says the nor'easter will bring 3 to 6 inches of snow for North Berkshire and 1 to 3 for Western Mass, but upwards of 2 feet for points north.
 
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Joe Lundberg said this storm will have a harsher impact than the one in mid-March in terms of tree and power line damage because of the wet and heavy snow. 
 
The storm system will enter the region today with rain and precipitation isn't expected to end until Friday. The snow is expected to start overnight on Wednesday and through Thursday as the temperatures drop. Some predictions have the worst of the weather to our north but even so, expect at least rain and sleet and a cold spell into the weekend. 
 
Greylock Snow Day is predicting 2 to 6 inches of snow and a 45 percent chance of a snow day on Thursday. 

Tags: snow & ice,   

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Clarksburg Students Write in Support of Rural School Aid

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

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. 
 
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