McCann Senior Praised For Her Achievements

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Superintendent James Brosnan presents McCann senior Laura Netti with the Superintendent's Award for 2015.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – McCann Technical School senior Laura Netti has received the Superintendent's Award.

Superintendent James Brosnan presented Netti with the award Thursday night during a ceremony in front of her family and the McCann School Committee.

The Massachusetts Association of Superintendents allows for superintendents to present the award to only one student a year.

"This is easily the most exciting part of my life is making the presentation that I am about to give," Brosnan said. "This is a distinct honor ... I think every single day when Laura comes to school she is always ready to work and help others."

Principal Justin Kratz read a long list of Netti's accomplishments. She is ranked first in her glass with a 4.3 grade-point average. She has also received awards for excellence and outstanding achievement in many of her courses and is an Adams Scholar.

Kratz said it is not a huge surprise that Netti received the award.  

"She has received many accolades leading up to this award as well so it is not a huge, huge surprise to see you up here as the winner of the Superintendent's Award," Kratz said. "You have done so well here."

Netti, daughter of Joseph and Paula Benoni of Clarksburg, has been involved in Project Lead the Way and Skills USA, has made high honors throughout her high school career, is captain of the girls cross country team, and takes a solid class load of AP courses. She is also a member of the National Honors Society.

Kratz read emails from Netti's teachers praising her and her accomplishments.

"First words that come to mind are kind and thoughtful. Laura is the kind of student that you want to give the Superintendent's Award to."

"Her commitment to excellence is a testament to her character and her family."

"High grades come fairly easily to Laura, yet she has a totally unassuming personality ... I have never seen her upset or impatient towards anything. She makes everything look easy."

Committee member James Gazzaniga praised Netti for her achievements and wished her the best of luck.

"This started the first time you said a word to your mom, progressed when you were able to read your first simple sentences from a book, then through that whole elementary school experience, and through your fourth year of high school here," Gazzaniga said. "You have never ever stopped running and being motivated and involving yourself in many activates. It's an amazing journey, and this part of it culminates here."

Netti thanked all those present for the award.

"Thank you," she said. "I am honored to receive this award."

Netti said she wants to go to college and is interested in pre-med or becoming a physician's assistant.


Tags: academic award,   McCann,   superintendent,   

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Clarksburg School Seeing Residential Enrollment Rise

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — As talk once again turns to the possibility of a school project, the School Committee wants to clear up misconceptions about enrollment. 
 
School choice students had made up about 25 percent or more of the student body at one time; that's now down to 17 percent and will fall off rapidly in the next few years. 
 
"The numbers in our school are pretty clear that people are moving into town to attend the school," said Superintendent John Franzoni at last Thursday's School Committee meeting, held virtually. 
 
There are currently 172 pupils in prekindergarten through Grade 8, of which 34 are school choice. 
 
There are no school-choice students in kindergarten and first grade, and no non-Clarksburg children in prekindergarten, which is ages 3 and 4 years. The School Committee has not opened slots to school choice since 2023.
 
The bulk of the school choice numbers are in Grades 6 through 8 — a total of 22. 
 
"That's a far cry from all the people I hear that say, why would we invest in our building when half of the kids are out of town," Franzoni said. "They're not. Most of the building, 83 percent of the building, is Clarksburg residents, and that's going to increase, because 27 of those 34 students are Grades 5 and above that are school choice."
 
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