Letter: Oleskiewicz Endorses Macksey for Mayor

To the editor:

Please join me in support of Jennifer Macksey for mayor of the City of North Adams.

After working closely with her over the last two terms as a sitting City Council member, I am proud of all that has been accomplished and am very much looking forward to the future and what is yet to be achieved. Her dedication to the city is unwavering. As past chair of Public Services, I like to go out on site to visit our hard-working crews and express my thanks. I am not surprised when I see her there doing the same. Appreciation goes a long way.

The city is in forward motion with many things that have been on the to-do list that have either been checked off or
are in motion. Dating back three mayors, the final stage is complete with the building of a new Greylock School, the Brown Street bridge will be open by early winter, there are two conceptual plans for the Veterans [Memorial] Bridge, belvedere work is being done at the North Adams Public Library, RFP was complete to sell off Sullivan School, our Police Department is in an ADA-compliant space, the list goes on.

She has not sat idly by, as some say. Jennifer is a "Do-er." When Jen first ran for mayor I did support the other candidate, who I still think would have done a fabulous job as well. Over the last four years, a fabulous working relationship was built and I have the fullest confidence in Jennifer running our great city and moving forward on some great future plans.

We may not agree on everything, and have had some yelling matches, but when we are done, we say "next" and move on. So please join me in casting your vote for the future of North Adams: Jennifer Macksey for mayor.

Pete Oleskiewicz
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.