McCandless Staying as DuBois Middle School Principal

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Jake McCandless previously served as superintendent in Mount Greylock, Pittsfield, and Lee.
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Jake McCandless, who left his post as superintendent of Mount Greylock Regional School District last spring, will continue as a middle school principal in the Berkshire Hills Regional School District
 
Superintendent Peter Dillon told the School Committee on Jan. 16 that McCandless, principal of W.E.B. Du Bois Middle School, has extended his contract for an additional three years. 
 
McCandless began his role in July 2024, succeeding Miles Wheat, who was hired as principal at Chatham (N.Y.) High School
 
With more than 30 years of experience in education, McCandless also previously served as superintendent in Pittsfield and Lee, where he was also a principal, as well as an assistant principal and teacher in Virginia.
 
Superintendent Dillon shared his praise.
 
"It's great to have a steady hand on the tiller," he said. "I'm so impressed with the relationships Jake has built, the time he's taken to listen, and his capacity to support sustained growth in the building. We're very lucky to have Jake as our principal and to extend his time on our team."
 
McCandless expressed his gratitude.
 
"I am very honored and very grateful for this gift of getting to serve long-term as the principal of a truly remarkable school in a truly remarkable district," he said. "Being an educator in the Berkshires for the past 22 years has been a joy, and being able to continue to serve with a focus on middle-level students and the professionals dedicated to caring for and educating them is a tremendous privilege."
 

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Fairview Hospital Recognized as a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) has announced that Fairview Hospital has been named among the 2025 Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, the 13th straight year Fairview has been so honored. 
 
Chartis' annual Top 100 award program honors outstanding performance among the nation's rural hospitals based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance INDEX.
 
"The South Berkshire community expects and relies on only the highest level of care from our caregivers and staff at Fairview Hospital," said Tony Scibelli, BHS Vice President and Fairview Chief Operating Officer. "This ongoing recognition epitomizes the commitment our staff makes each and every day for each and every patient who walks through Fairview's doors."
 
"The Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals award program elevates the very best performers and helps create a roadmap for those seeking to improve financial and operational performance while continuing to care for the communities they serve," said Michael Topchik, Executive Director, The Chartis Center for Rural Health. "This is our 15th year recognizing the Top 100 Critical Access Hospitals and we're thrilled to be able to celebrate this milestone with this year's winners."
 
According to a press release, the INDEX is the industry's most comprehensive and objective assessment of rural hospital performance. Leveraging publicly available data, the INDEX is utilized nationwide by rural hospitals, health systems with rural affiliates, hospital associations, and state offices of rural health to measure and monitor performance across a variety of areas impacting hospital operations and finance.
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