DALTON, Mass. — Central Berkshire Regional School Committee appointed its newest member, Sara Tucker, during its meeting last week.
Tucker will be serving as the committee's Dalton representative taking the place of the town's former representative Nicole Tucker. Although Sara and Nicole share a last name they have no relation.
Nicole Tucker decided to leave her seat early, which caused a vacancy on the committee that needed to be filled. The district put a call out for applications and received three but two dropped out.
The seat will be included in the elections in November so the community can vote who they want to have as the Dalton representative.
Sara Tucker is a supervisor for an adolescent unit at the state Department of Children and Families.
As a social worker, she has experience working with teens in the criminal justice system which the committee has not had before, committee Chair Richard Peters said.
"I'm excited actually, because obviously she has a lot of energy and a lot of really good experience and it's good to have a really great mix of people, parents, other folks who've been not in education, folks that are in education, and we have a really good blend of all of the above characters," Peters said.
"So, it really works out well and everybody on the committee is very respectful and it's just a pleasure to be on this committee, and I hope it maintains that for sure. It actually makes it really nice. So, I'm excited to have her, that's for sure."
Tucker has children in the district, one who will be going to Nessacus Regional Middle School next year and another one is involved in special education and receives Individualized Education Program services. She also is president of the Parent Teacher Organization.
"Since my kiddos started, I've been trying to figure out ways to kind of be helpful to the school system to be helpful to my children and their growth within the school system," Tucker said.
"I think she has an excellent background," Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis. "She has great ideas, great suggestions. She's very invested in all students. She has children in the district."
As the PTO president, Tucker has helped the Craneville Elementary School principal bring in more "diversity, equity inclusion" with a reading program.
The program works to increase belonging and make children feel included while also encouraging readers, especially the reluctant readers, she said. She is also working with Craneville to bring the entrepreneur fair for its fifth graders.
She has a master's degree in social work from the University of Albany in New York and a post-master's certificate working with adolescents and children that are dealing with different challenges.
"Having that experience and coming from where I'm trying to kind of fix things. I would love to be able to kind of come in here and help create more positive change for our kids and our staff," Tucker said.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Due to software upgrades, the City of Pittsfield's City Clerk's Office permitting system, PermitEyes, will be temporarily unavailable beginning at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22 through Monday, Aug. 26.
Beginning on Tuesday, Aug. 27, the new version of PermitEyes will be live for the City Clerk's Office. The new PermitEyes 20/20 program will be an upgrade to the current permitting program with an entirely new look and feel aimed at making the process more user friendly. Applicants will be able to view and track the progress of their application from the PermitEyes homepage as it goes through the approval process.
To move all the data from the current site to the new site, the permitting system for the City Clerk's Office will be unavailable during this transition period including business certificates, inflammable fluid registrations, single event entertainment licenses, special auctioneer permits, special event permits, special one-day alcohol beverage licenses. No permit applications will be accepted online.
If a new permit is required during this time, residents are asked to call the City Clerk's Office at (413) 499-9361 or visit their office at 70 Allen Street to file a paper application. Payment will be accepted in the form of cash or check payable to the City of Pittsfield. Online requests for vital records and dog licenses are not impacted by this update and can be
requested through the city's website.
The new site will be accessible on Tuesday, Aug. 27. No permitting systems for other city departments will be impacted during this transition.
If you are currently a PermitEyes user and have the site bookmarked, the existing link will take you to the new site where you can log in and conduct your business as usual.
The City of Pittsfield appreciates your patience during this process.
The agenda posted on Aug. 15 included two items: general business and a discussion of the duties of the Water Commissioners and Prudential Committee. click for more
Councilor at Large Earl Persip III was the lone vote in opposition to a utility pole petition from Eversource and Verizon New England on Tuesday night. click for more
Last year, it was reported there were 48 fatal overdoses in Berkshire County in 2022 — 29 just in Pittsfield. Since 2012, there had been a staggering 418 deaths from overdose in the county.
click for more
The Historical Commission has designated August as George Hoose Art Month at the Fitch-Hoose House and is showcasing some of the painter's work.
click for more