MTRSD S'Update
September 24, 2021
MTRSD hosts Rural Roundtable event to discuss rural school challenges
Yesterday, Mohawk Trail Regional School served as the host site for Sen. Adam Hinds, Rep. Natalie Blais, and the Mohawk Trail Regional School District's Rural Roundtable listening session and discussion with the Rural Commission on Thursday, Sept. 23. The event brought state legislators, area superintendents, and local school committee / finance committee / select board members together for the day, both in-person and virtually, to discuss the critical issues affecting rural schools today.
Banding together, the districts highlighted issues relative to the high costs of educating students in small and rural communities including inherent inequities in foundation funding and Chapter 70 aid, transportation, and special education. Members from the state legislature listened to constituents as they shared their stories and prospective solutions to these issues.
Participants included:
- Sen. Adam Hinds
- Rep. Natalie Blais
- Sen. Jo Commerford
- Sen. Jason Lewis
- Rep. Paul Mark
- Rural Commissioners: Ellen Holmes, Sharon Harrison, Todd Stewart, Lisa Battaglino
- Corey Testa, office representative from House Education Committee Chair Rep. Alice Peisch
- Rural School Commissioners Tom Moreau, Linda Dunlavy, Tom Matuszko, Sheila Muir
- Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education
- Massachusetts Association of Regional Schools
School district representatives from: - Mohawk Trail Regional School District
- Athol Royalston Regional School District
- Erving School Union 28
- Gateway Regional
- Gill-Montague Regional School District
- Hampshire Regional School District
- Hatfield Public Schools
- North Brookfield Public Schools
- Ralph C. Mahar School District
- Ware Public Schools
To read more about the event, check out the article in the Recorder: https://www.recorder.com/Roundtable-emphasizes-funding-difficulties-for-area-s-rural-schools-42649893
Be sure to check out our Vimeo channel (www.vimeo.com/mtrsd) next week where you'll be able to rewatch portions of the event.
**Thank you to our incredible student ambassadors who helped to greet and welcome our Roundtable guests to MTRS: Jeffrey Buck, Lola Hoffenberg, Lizzy Lynch, Sean O'Dea, Catie Silva, Emily Silva, and Erica Szewczyk.**
AP computer science students learn coding
Students in AP computer science were hard at work learning how to code mobile apps earlier this week. In addition to learning how to code, students shared and tested their apps with their peers. We're looking forward to seeing their progress (and creativity) in the weeks to come!
Sanderson Academy hosts Local Goods fundraiser
MTRSD community - Did you know you can help support local artisans and vendors AND our school simply by ordering through our Local Goods catalog? Check out the variety of products offered this year! Visit the Sanderson Academy webpage (sanderson.mohawktrailschools.org) and click on HELPFUL LINKS to access the full catalog and order forms. When you purchase items through Local Goods, you help to support our school!
Deadline for ordering is Friday, October 8. Distribution day/order pick ups: Saturday, November 13 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Sanderson Academy
Local volunteers build picnic tables for Buckland-Shelburne Elementary
A BIG thank you to all the volunteers who recently helped to build picnic tables at Buckland-Shelburne Elementary school! Our students and staff love this new seating option for outdoors. Check out the pictures in
this BSE Bulletin.
Colrain students enjoy time outdoors
Colrain bottle and can drive
Mark your calendars for Oct. 2!
Bring your bottles and cans to the transfer station OR the big shed at the baseball field in Foundry Village (this drop off location will be available until October 2 and checked daily). Your donations will help to raise funds for the 5/6th grade trip to Nature's Classroom.
Thanks for all you do to make Mohawk Trail and Hawlemont School Districts GREAT places to learn and grow!
Sheryl Stanton
Superintendent
