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The Independent Investor: Should College be Free, Part IIBy Bill Schmick,
01:16PM / Friday, February 17, 2012 | |
 My last column ended with two questions:
"Does a high school education prepare our youth to enter the work force, escape poverty and become productive citizen of the economy?"
The answer to that question is a resounding no, in my opinion, which creates a problem since the purpose of public education, according to our founding fathers, was the accomplishment of those goals. I believe there is a consensus among Americans that a college education has supplanted high school as a requirement in accomplishing the above goals. In which case, colleges should be tuition-free just like most high schools.
Whether college really does prepare our future generations for "living the 1 CommentRead More >> |
Mount Greylock School Officials Estimate Building RenovationBy Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
10:03AM / Friday, February 17, 2012 | |
 WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — In the best case scenario, renovating Mount Greylock Regional High School would cost a minimum of $28.1 million.
While the building subcommittee is going full force toward building a new school, they were asked to provide a Plan B to both Lanesborough, for a long-range capital expense plan, and by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, which threatened the school's accreditation if a plan was not in place to repair the school.
In 2006, the architecture firm Dore and Whittier performed a feasibility study that estimated a one-time renovation would cost about $22.4 million, which was the cheapest of eight options the firm developed. Committee 9 Comments
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Human Library Books Engage Readers in ConversationBy Phyllis McGuire, Special to iBerkshires
05:37PM / Wednesday, February 15, 2012 | |
 WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Books can be instructive, escapist, emotional and illuminating. At Williams College last week, they were also conversational.
The college hosted a "Human Library" with volunteer living books at the Paresky Student Center on Friday and Saturday as a way to promote dialogue on variety of issues. The Human Library was conceived in Denmark in 2000 by a non-governmental youth movement called Stop The Violence.
"The Human Library is a way to know people who have had unusual experiences and faced challenges — ask them questions, and check out prejudices," said Magnus Bernhardsson, associate professor of history, who as a Gaudino Scholar is 0 Comments
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Williams College Hosting Oceans Symposium| 04:02PM / Monday, February 13, 2012 | |
 WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Throughout the spring semester, the Williams College Center for Environmental Studies, biology department, political science department, maritime studies program, and lecture committee will sponsor a symposium on oceans.
The goal of this interdisciplinary symposium is to raise awareness about current environmental issues associated with the oceans and its inhabitants and about the challenges associated with human stewardship of the oceans.
The seven lectures in this series will occur on Feb. 17, Feb. 21, Feb. 27, March 6, April 10, April 17, and April 24. The first lecture will take place at 2:30 p.m. in Wege Auditorium, Thompson Chemistry. The remaining lectures 0 Comments
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Williamstown Elementary Signs Lease With Youth CenterBy Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
10:30PM / Wednesday, February 08, 2012 | |
 WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The new Youth Center set to be built on Elementary School land took a "momentous step" Wednesday night when both school and center officials signed a lease for the next 100 years.
The lease is one of the final steps before the center breaks ground on March 15. With the help of Town Manager Peter Fohlin and attorneys, the two sides reached an agreement that center officials approved on Monday and school officials on Wednesday.
"I feel this is a momentous occasion," Youth Center Executive Director David Rempell said. "We are all set to break ground next month."
The lease called for an initial deposit of $50,000 into a maintenance fund as 12 Comments
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Mount Greylock Regional Application for School ProjectStaff Reports,
07:38PM / Monday, February 06, 2012 | |
 WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — School officials are waiting for the state to review their statement of interest for a new school after updating and rewriting the application.
Mt. Greylock High Schools Certification Threatened
Mount Greylock School Officials Uncover More Health Concerns
Mt. Greylock High School Asks DHP To Re-Test Air Quality
Mount Greylock Gearing For New School PitchThe application was submitted in December and outlines many of the health and safety hazards at Mount Greylock Regional High School. In it, they hope to convinces the state School Building Authority to reimburse the residents of Lanesborough and Williamstown — at about 54 percent — who will ultimately pay 0 Comments
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Guest Column: Community Colleges Key to Work-Force DevelopmentBy Gov. Deval Patrick, Guest Column
01:37PM / Wednesday, February 01, 2012 | |
 We have 240,000 people looking for work and nearly 120,000 open jobs today in Massachusetts. How can we have so much opportunity available and so many people still looking for a chance?
Business leaders tell me over and over again that it is because the people looking for jobs don't have the skills required. Many of these openings are for "middle skills" jobs that require more than a high school diploma but not necessarily a four-year degree: jobs in medical device manufacturing or lab technicians or solar installers, for example. And a lot of those forced by the economic downturn to make a change in their careers, people in their 30s or 40s or 50s, don't have the 0 Comments
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Mount Greylock Students Calling For SEE Fund Pledges| 05:35PM / Tuesday, January 31, 2012 | |
 WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Sustaining Educational Excellence Fund of the Mount Greylock Regional School District will host its third annual telethon on Thursday, Feb. 9.
Students from Mount Greylock will begin phoning members of the community at 6 p.m. Donors may also call in to 413-458-9582 to make pledges. The telethon will be broadcast live on Willinet, Channel 16, from 6:30 to 8.
SEE Fund organizers hope to raise $5,000 during this year's telethon. Funds raised support the school's efforts to provide students with a challenging and engaging curriculum, enhance their love of learning, promote responsible citizenship, and stimulate intellectual and creative 0 Comments
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Mount Greylock School Committee Member ResignsBy Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
05:00PM / Tuesday, January 31, 2012 | |
 Abigail Reifsnyder said on Wednesday that she is resigning because of the time commitment and frustrations with School Committee decisions, such as scheduling meetings at times when she would be unable to attend.
"This was a really difficult decision for me," Reifsnyder said. "I feel really bad that I'm not going to finish out my term."
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The resignation of a Mount Greylock Regional School Committee member this week will mean a fourth person will be appointed to complete a committee term begun in 2008.
Abigail Reifsnyder, a social worker, submitted her resignation this week. She was unavailable for comment on Tuesday. The Williamstown resident was 0 Comments
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Williams Invites Community To Experience 'Human Library'| 02:11PM / Tuesday, January 31, 2012 | |
 WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williams College is inviting the community to experience a "Human Library" on Friday, Feb. 10, from 11 to 3 and Saturday, Feb. 11, from 1 to 3 at the Paresky Center on campus.
This is a free, interactive event and reservations are not required. Support is provided by the Gaudino Fund and Sawyer Library.
The Human Library contains 35 to 40 books, or rather people, who have volunteered to be "checked out" for 25 to 30 minutes each. As a reader, a visitor will be able to start a one-on-one conversation with any book in the library. This is an opportunity to borrow another person for a given time and ask them what you want to know. The 0 Comments
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