Police Called for Conflict at Drury

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Updated with clarifications on Tuesday at 9:57 a.m.
 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — School officials say a police presence at Drury High School on Monday morning was related to a "verbal confrontation" between students stemming from an "incident" over the weekend. 
 
The high and middle school went into lockdown for a brief period as police and school administrators dealt with the problem. 
 
Superintendent Timothy Callahan provided the public schools' official statement, which was sent out to the school community.
 
On Tuesday, he said "It was an escalated verbal conflict, and staff intervened to ensure that it did not become a fight." He clarified there was no weapon brandished, a rumor that was circulating on Facebook. 
 
The statement on Monday did not detail the root of the conflict but said there will be consequences to the students' behavior
 
Good Morning Drury Staff, Students, and Families,
An incident in the community over the weekend led to a conflict prior to the start of school at Drury High School this morning between two or more high school students. School staff called for a "stay put" and then a brief "lockdown" to ensure that the confict was contained and addressed promptly. The North Adams Police also arrived on the scene to ensure the safety of everyone in the school.
 
School leaders will provide consequences to students involved in the conflict as outlined in our district-wide Code of Conduct, Character, and Support and also provide regular support for students to build pro-social behaviors and minimize incidents of verbal and physical escalation.
 
Unsafe actions will not be tolerated in our buildings, and we appreciate your support in ensuring that our focus can remain on classroom teaching and learning.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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 fulling 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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