Recent Rainfall Lifts Massachusetts Out of Drought

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BOSTON – Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Rebecca Tepper declared drought conditions return to normal following above-normal rainfall for the month of June. 
 
All seven regions are at a Level 0-Normal Conditions, including the Western and Cape Cod Regions, which were previously declared at a Level-1 Mild Drought. The declarations are the result of a recommendation issued from a recent meeting of the Drought Management Task Force, comprised of state and federal officials and other entities. 
 
"After a week of devastating floods in Western Massachusetts, it should not come as a surprise that the drought has lifted," said EEA Secretary Rebecca Tepper. "In recent months, we've seen droughts, flooding, and wildfire smoke across our region. The climate crisis is very much here. The Healey-Driscoll Administration is focused on addressing these impacts on all fronts – from disaster response to water conservation efforts, to a swift transition to clean energy. We continue to monitor water levels closely as weather becomes more extreme."
 
The month of June and the beginning of July have brought above-normal rainfall and near to below-normal temperatures across the state. State officials expect above-average precipitation and near to slightly above-average temperatures for the rest of July. Normal Conditions, as outlined in the Massachusetts Drought Management Plan, recommends that overall water efficiency practices and preparedness actions such as water conservation and emergency planning efforts continue at the local level and that state and local agencies work to review, assess, and improve responses and actions implemented during the drought.
 
With the declaration of Normal Conditions, the Drought Management Task Force will not meet again until a region in the state is experiencing drought conditions. However, state agencies will continue to monitor and assess conditions across Massachusetts. For further information on water conservation and what residents and communities can do, please visit EEA's Drought page and water conservation page. 
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DCF Clears Two Pittsfield High Administrators

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass.—The Department of Children and Families has reportedly cleared two Pittsfield High School administrators of misconduct: Dean of Students Molly West and Vice Principal Alison Shepard.

On Friday, School Committee Chair William Cameron confirmed that DCF’s 51A investigation of allegations of abuse or neglect made against PHS Dean of Students Molly West was unsupported.

"(Superintendent Joseph Curtis) told me yesterday that his office has received formal notice from DCF that the agency's investigation of those allegations has been completed, and that the allegations were found to be unsupported," Cameron wrote VIA email.

Earlier in the week, he announced that the first part of a committee-initiated investigation led by Mary-Lou Rup, a retired Superior Court judge, was completed and West, one of the school’s two deans, was cleared by Rup.  

iBerkshires inquired about the DCF investigation running parallel.  On Thursday, Cameron said the district has reason to believe that DCF's investigation has cleared West, but he did not have written confirmation of that assertion.

"I have been told by [interim Deputy Superintendent Matt] Bishop, who is the Pittsfield Public Schools' contact with DCF in these matters, that the agency's investigation of Ms. West was returned with a determination that the allegations made against her were unsupported," he wrote.

"I have not seen formal confirmation of this from DCF. Apparently, its report to Dr. Bishop was provided through a conversation."

The Berkshire Eagle Wednesday night reported that DCF has determined that allegations of misconduct against PHS Vice Principal Alison Shepard were unsupported.  The Eagle also reported that DCF cleared Berkshire Family YMCA staff member Taverick "Tank" Roberson in January and he returned from administrative leave.

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