BCC Prepares Students for New FAFSA Form

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Student Financial Services Office at Berkshire Community College (BCC), in recognition of changes in the 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, encourages current and prospective students and their families to attend a workshop or drop in the office any time for help navigating the application process. 
 
The office is in the One Stop Enrollment Center on BCC's main campus, located at 1350 West Street, Pittsfield, and is open Monday-Friday, 8 am-4 pm. 
 
 
Free FAFSA completion workshops will be held on the following dates:
  • Tuesday, January 30, 9-11 am        
  • Thursday, February 22, 11 am-1 pm        
  • Tuesday, March 12, 9-11 am       
  • Thursday, April 11, 2-4 pm  
To sign up for a workshop, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/fafsa-workshop. Drop-ins are also welcome any time the office is open. 
 
Director of Student Financial Services Karrie Trautman summarized the changes in the new form: 
 
The 2024–25 FAFSA form expands eligibility for federal student aid, including Pell grants, and provides a streamlined user experience.  
 
Student aid calculations have been updated, allowing 610,000 new students from low-income backgrounds to be eligible to receive federal Pell Grants.  
 
Applicants will be able to skip as many as 26 questions, depending on their individual circumstances. Some applicants could answer as few as 18 questions, which could take less than 10 minutes. 
 
Trautman said that with these changes, she expects more students will qualify for federal Pell grants as well as new state programs, including MassReconnect, the Commonwealth's Nursing Scholarship Program and MASSGrant Plus Expansion.  
 
The MASSGrant Plus Expansion program requires FAFSA submission by May 1, 2024. Trautman said she encourages applying for FAFSA by this date, but it is not mandatory. Applications can be submitted directly at studentaid.gov. 
 
"Students and families don't need an appointment, unless a translator is needed—they are welcome to visit the office any time we are open," Trautman said. "They do not need to be a current or future BCC student. We help anyone." 
 
She noted that families needing a translator or those preferring a virtual session should contact the office to schedule an appointment. 
 
For more information, contact the Student Financial Services Office at finaid@berkshirecc.edu or (413) 499-4660. 

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Lanesborough to Vote on 34 Articles at ATM

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Voters will decide 34 warrant articles at the annual town meeting on June 11.

The Select Board endorsed a long list of articles during its regular meeting on Monday, most without discussion. 

A $11,846,607 spending plan has been proposed for fiscal year 2025, a 4.3 percent increase from the this year. The budget includes a net increase of $237,129 in education costs for the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School, less than the $271,478 increase in FY24. 

Three articles are related to short-term rentals, or Airbnbs: To impose a local excise tax of up to 6 percent of the total amount of rent for each occupancy, a 3 percent impact fee on "professionally managed" short-term rentals, and a 3 percent impact fee on short-term rentals in two- or three-family dwellings.

"These are the proposed language as provided by town counsel," Town Administrator Gina Dario explained.

Included in the 34 articles is one citizen's petition, which the board was not required to endorse. If passed, this petition would increase the Select Board from three to five members with an annual election of the chair. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes in that election would serve a three-year term, the candidate receiving the second highest number of votes would serve a two-year term, and the candidate receiving the third highest number of votes would serve a one-year term, with three-year terms to follow.

Two articles needed clearance from the Planning Board before coming to the Select Board, one being a request to amend the town's zoning bylaw to raise the cap on accessory dwelling units from 900 to 2,500 square feet.  

The proposal is in response to the lack of housing availability in the community and is the second go-around.

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