Division VI Legislative Forum

Join MASC Division VI for a Legislative Forum on October 1, 2018 at which the full District VI delegation will be present:

• Sen. Adam Hinds, State Senator, representing Berkshire, Hampshire, Franklin & Hampden Districts
• Rep. John Barrett, State Representative for the 1st Berkshire District
• Rep. Paul Mark, State Representative for the 2nd Berkshire District
• Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, State Representative for the 3rd Berkshire District
• Rep. Smitty Pignatelli, State Representative for the 4th Berkshire District

The forum will take place at Lee High/Middle School (300 Greylock St, Lee, MA 01238) at 6 pm on October 1.

As you know, our member districts continue to face challenges to quality education due to sharply declining enrollment and escalating costs. The forum agenda will center on funding, the elements of Chapter 70 state financial assistance, and strategies to stabilize school budgets for the years ahead. One key question will be what role (if any) the division sees for the Berkshire County Education Task Force in the coming and subsequent years.

This forum will be open to the public and to the press. Please pass the date along to your superintendents, town officials and others who might be interested in participating. MASC will provide refreshments.

On another matter of business, Division VI members will elect new officers at at the MASC/MASS 2018 Joint Conference November 7-10, in Hyannis, MA. We will be seeking nominations for chair, vice-chair and secretary and will send out more information on this soon.

Also at the November Conference, MASC will be offering a session of Charting the Course. If you are new to your school committee and have not yet attended a session, please consider doing so at the Conference. There is more information about the annual conference, along with many helpful documents on the MASC website.