Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm
Sharp Drop In College Enrollment Raises Alarm Fewer high school graduates began college this fall, with enrollment in that age group dropping 5 percent from last year, according to an analysis by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.  Four-year institutions were hardest hit, with public colleges seeing an 8.5 percent drop in first-year enrollments and private nonprofit colleges reporting a 6.5 percent decline.  This trend poses significant challenges for colleges and universities, particularly those reliant on tuition revenue.  As the competition for students intensifies, institutions face mounting pressur…
Teacher Resigns After Video Of Her Threatening Trump Voters Goes Viral Teacher Resigns After Video Of Her Threatening Trump Voters Goes Viral
Teacher Resigns After Video Of Her Threatening Trump Voters Goes Viral A Connecticut school teacher who was put on leave after a video surfaced of her delivering an angry message directed at President-elect Donald Trump and his voters has resigned, officials said. Annie Dunleavy, a special education teacher for the Cheshire School District, submitted her immediate resignation from Chapman Elementary on Wednesday, Nov. 13, two days after being placed on temporary leave, school officials said. 'Related: You Will End On A Stretcher': Teacher on Leave After Threatening Trump Voters She shared the minute-long viral video in a private group message on Snapchat, b…
'You Will End On A Stretcher': CT Teacher On Leave After Threatening Trump Voters 'You Will End On A Stretcher': CT Teacher On Leave After Threatening Trump Voters
'You Will End On A Stretcher': CT Teacher On Leave After Threatening Trump Voters Update: A Connecticut teacher who threatened to fight President-elect Donald Trump's voters in a viral video has resigned from the New Haven County school where she worked. Click here to read more.  Original: A Connecticut elementary school teacher was placed on temporary leave after a video of her threatening people who voted for President-Elect Donald Trump was shared on social media.  Cheshire Schools Superintendent Jeff Solan announced the decision on Monday, Nov. 11, and said the New Haven County school district is investigating the incident.  In the minute-long vi…
Recall Of 11.7M Pounds Of Meat, Poultry: List Of Affected Schools Released State-By-State Recall Of 11.7M Pounds Of Meat, Poultry: List Of Affected Schools Released State-By-State
Recall Of 11.7M Pounds Of Meat, Poultry: List Of Affected Schools Released State-By-State A preliminary list has been released of schools that received items that were part of a nationwide recall of millions of pounds of meat and poultry products over fears they may be contaminated with Listeria. The initial recall involving the manufacturer, Bruce Pac, was for 9,986,245 pounds of ready-to-eat (RTE) products sold at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Trader Joe's, 7-Eleven, Aldi, and other stores. It was announced on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Earlier this week, the recall was expanded to include 11,765,285 pounds of products, the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspectio…
Yale University Names Maurie McInnis As New President Yale University Names Maurie McInnis As New President
Yale University Names Maurie McInnis As New President The president of Long Island’s Stony Brook University has been selected to first permanent female president of Yale University. Maurie McInnis was named Yale’s 24th president in an announcement by the school. The 58-year-old cultural historian, currently serving as the president of Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, graduated from Yale with a Ph.D in art history in 1996. In the years since her graduation, McInnis has served in senior positions at the University of Virginia and the University of Texas at Austin before moving to Stony Brook University in 2020. She became a Yale trus…
Central Mass Teacher On Leave After Holding Slave Auction With Black Students, Using Slur Central Mass Teacher On Leave After Holding Slave Auction With Black Students, Using Slur
Central Mass Teacher On Leave After Holding Slave Auction With Black Students, Using Slur A fifth-grade teacher in Worcester County was placed on administrative leave after officials learned they held an "impromptu slave auction" during a lesson on the economy of the Southern states and later used a racial slur during a discussion on a book, school district leaders said in a letter to parents.  Northborough and Southborough Superintendent of Schools Gregory Martineau wrote that the two incidents happened in January and April. He said he did not learn about them until parents brought them to his attention on April 24.  An investigation found that during a history d…
How Sweet: Mass Educator Named 'Teacher Of The Year' By Cookie Chain Crumbl How Sweet: Mass Educator Named 'Teacher Of The Year' By Cookie Chain Crumbl
How Sweet: Mass Educator Named 'Teacher Of The Year' By Cookie Chain Crumbl Forget the apple; this distinguished Massachusetts teacher is getting a cookie party. Just in time for National Teacher Appreciation Day, cookie chain Crumbl announced the winners of its “Teacher of the Year” awards, given to educators “for their extraordinary commitment to their classrooms.” In Massachusetts, the honor went to Worcester County teacher Eileen McNamara at Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School in Charlton.  Recipients were selected from a pool of over 6,000 nominations that included testimonials from parents, students, colleagues, and friends. The…
Best High Schools: Massachusetts Well-Represented In Brand-New U.S. News Rankings Best High Schools: Massachusetts Well-Represented In Brand-New U.S. News Rankings
Best High Schools: Massachusetts Well-Represented In Brand-New U.S. News Rankings Massachusetts is well-represented on U.S. News & World Report's latest rankings of the nation's best high schools. The brand-new rankings were released Tuesday, April 23, and determined by performance on state-required tests, graduation, and how well they prepare students for college. The highest-ranked school in Massachusetts is Boston Latin School, which is rated 27th nationally. It drew high marks for students taking at least one AP exam, as well as proficiency in mathematics and reading, and for its high graduation rate. These other schools made the Top 10 in the Com…
School District In Fairfield County Causes Controversy By Removing 2 Scheduled Holidays School District In Fairfield County Causes Controversy By Removing 2 Scheduled Holidays
School District In Fairfield County Causes Controversy By Removing 2 Scheduled Holidays A Connecticut school board's decision to remove two holidays that have traditionally given students a day off has sparked debate amongst community members, according to a report by ABC 7 New York.  The controversy began in Fairfield County following the Stamford School Board's decision to remove Veterans Day and Columbus Day from their calendar, which means students will not have them off for the next two years, according to an ABC7 report from Friday, Jan. 26.  Board members, who passed the decision in a 5-3 motion, have defended the decision by saying students should remain in s…
Harvard University President Resigns Amid Controversy: Reports Harvard University President Resigns Amid Controversy: Reports
Harvard University President Resigns Amid Controversy: Reports Claudine Gay is set to resign as Harvard University president after facing plagiarism accusations over her academic work and heavy criticism during a congressional hearing on campus antisemitism. Gay is stepping down on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 2, after just six months and two days since being appointed president of the university, according to the Harvard Crimson. Her tenure is the shortest ever for a Harvard president, the newspaper reported.  Related: Harvard President Claudine Gay Gets Support From Faculty Her resignation comes after mounting allegations of plagiarism of her…
Harvard President Requests More Changes To Her Work As Congress Digs Into Her Writing: Reports Harvard President Requests More Changes To Her Work As Congress Digs Into Her Writing: Reports
Harvard President Requests More Changes To Her Work As Congress Digs Into Her Writing: Reports As the US House of Representatives is digging deeper into Harvard University President Claudine Gay’s academic work, the university said it had found more issues in connection to the matter. The Harvard Corporation, which oversees the university, said on Wednesday, Dec. 20 that Gay would request three corrections to her 1997 Ph.D. dissertation, the Harvard Crimson reported. The corrections follow an independent review by the corporation, which found that Gay had not properly attributed some of her sources but the incidents didn't rise to the level of serious wrongdoing, the Crimson reported…
Harvard President Faces Plagiarism Allegations Amid Calls For Resignation Harvard President Faces Plagiarism Allegations Amid Calls For Resignation
Harvard President Faces Plagiarism Allegations Amid Calls For Resignation Harvard University president Claudine Gay faces new allegations while some are calling for her resignation after they took issue with recent comments she made to Congress about anti-Semitism.  A report claims that Gay had plagiarized portions of her doctoral thesis. However, the prestigious university said it had looked into the matter and determined that she had not violated any of the school's research standards. Officials said two of her articles will receive corrections for "inadequate citation." The Harvard Corporation, which supervises the university, announced in a statement on …
Harvard Faculty Backs President Gay Amid Calls For Resignation Over Congressional Testimony Harvard Faculty Backs President Gay Amid Calls For Resignation Over Congressional Testimony
Harvard Faculty Backs President Gay Amid Calls For Resignation Over Congressional Testimony Harvard President Claudine Gay is facing calls to resign after her congressional hearing on antisemitism went viral last week, but hundreds of university faculty are rallying behind her in support. An open letter, addressed to the Harvard Corporation, has reached 686 signatures from faculty members, according to the Harvard Crimson. Related: Gay Denies Plagiarism Claims As University Lends Its Support Faculty members wrote: “We, the undersigned faculty, urge you in the strongest possible terms to defend the independence of the university and to resist political pressures that are at odds …
Liz Magill, Scott Bok Resign From UPenn Positions Liz Magill, Scott Bok Resign From UPenn Positions
Liz Magill, Scott Bok Resign From UPenn Positions Moments after it was announced that University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill was resigning, Board of Trustees Chairman Scott Bok followed suit. Magill, whose testimony to Congress on antisemitism earlier this week sparked widespread outrage, resigned on Saturday, Dec. 9. Bok later announced his resignation, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Magill remains a faculty member at Penn Carey Law and will stay on as president until an interim president is appointment, UPenn Board of Trustees Chairman Scott Bok said in announcing the news Saturday evening. And Liz Magill has resig…
College In CT Shows Support For Palestinian Student Shot In VT In Apparent Hate Crime College In CT Shows Support For Palestinian Student Shot In VT In Apparent Hate Crime
College In CT Shows Support For Palestinian Student Shot In VT In Apparent Hate Crime A college community in Connecticut, alongside many nationwide, has been left reeling after a student of Palestinian descent was one of three shot in what appears to be a hate crime. Tahseen Ali Ahmad, age 20, who attends Trinity College in Hartford, was one of three men of the same age shot outside of a house in Burlington, Vermont on Sunday, Nov. 26, the school announced. Ali Ahmad and the two other men — Kinnan Abdalhamid and Hisham Awartani, also of Palestinian descent — were lifelong friends visiting a relative’s house near the University of Vermont's campus for the Thanksgiving holid…
21-Year-Old Accused Of Threatening To Shoot, Stab, Rape Jewish Students On Campus At Cornell 21-Year-Old Accused Of Threatening To Shoot, Stab, Rape Jewish Students On Campus At Cornell
21-Year-Old Accused Of Threatening To Shoot, Stab, Rape Jewish Students On Campus At Cornell A student at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York has been accused of threatening to shoot, stab, and rape Jewish students at the Ivy League school. Patrick Dai, a 21-year-old junior originally from Pittsford, New York, was arrested on Tuesday, Oct. 31 on a federal criminal complaint charging him with posting threats to kill or injure another using interstate communications, according to prosecutors in the Northern District of New York. Dai allegedly posted threatening messages to the Cornell section of an online discussion site, including posts calling for the deaths of Jewish peopl…
These High Schools Ranked Top 5 In Berkshire County: New Report These High Schools Ranked Top 5 In Berkshire County: New Report
These High Schools Ranked Top 5 In Berkshire County: New Report The grades are in - these five high schools are the best of the best in Berkshire County, according to ranking website Niche. Evaluated on categories such as academics, administration, and sports, community and school ranking site Niche proclaimed that these public high schools rise to the top in Berkshire County: No. 1 - Mt. Greylock Regional High School No. 2 - Lenox Memorial High School No. 3 - Monument Mountain Regional High School No. 4 - Pittsfield High School No. 5 - Lee Middle/High School All five schools earned a grade of “B” or higher, which is based on dozens of public da…
New Report Ranks These High Schools As Franklin County’s Best New Report Ranks These High Schools As Franklin County’s Best
New Report Ranks These High Schools As Franklin County’s Best As the back-to-school season settles into full swing, the community and school ranking site Niche named these Massachusetts schools as the best in the area. The 2023 “Best Public High Schools in Franklin County” list, released by ranking site Niche, evaluated institutions in the area and based on categories such as academics, diversity, and more, declared the following as the best of the best: No. 1 - Frontier Regional School No. 2 - Four Rivers Charter Public School No. 3 - Turners Fall High School  No. 4 - Greenfield High School No. 5 - Mohawk Trail Regional High School …
Top Honors: These Massachusetts Schools Recipients Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award Top Honors: These Massachusetts Schools Recipients Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award
Top Honors: These Massachusetts Schools Recipients Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award When it comes to overall excellence, these Massachusetts schools are at the top of the class, and they have the hardware to prove it. Seven schools in the Bay State are among just 353 across the country to receive the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award from the US Department of Education. The annual awards recognize high-performing public and non-public schools, as well as those making strides in closing “achievement gaps” among student groups. “Their leaders not only articulate a vision of excellence and hold everyone to high standards, they stay close to the real action of teaching a…
These 7 Mass Liberal Arts Colleges Rank Among Top 20 In US, New Report Says These 7 Mass Liberal Arts Colleges Rank Among Top 20 In US, New Report Says
These 7 Mass Liberal Arts Colleges Rank Among Top 20 In US, New Report Says The grades are in, and these colleges are a cut above the rest. Of the top 20 liberal arts colleges in the United States, four can be found in Massachusetts, three in New York, and one in Connecticut, according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 National Liberal Arts Colleges Rankings. They are: No. 1 - Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts No. 2 - Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts No. 4 - Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts (Tied with Pomona College in Claremont, California and Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania) No. 8 - United States Military …
These School Districts Ranked Top 5 In Hampshire County, Report Says These School Districts Ranked Top 5 In Hampshire County, Report Says
These School Districts Ranked Top 5 In Hampshire County, Report Says The grades are in, and these school districts are a cut above the rest, according to the community and school ranking site Niche. After considering several key areas, the following were ranked in the website’s 2023 “Best Public School Districts in Hampshire County” report: No. 1 - Amherst-Pelham Regional School District No. 2 - Northampton Public Schools No. 3 - Hadley Public Schools No. 4 - South Hadley Public Schools No. 5 - Belchertown Public Schools All five districts earned high overall grades, with Amherst-Pelham and Northampton receiving A’s. The remaining districts each hold an ove…
These High Schools Ranked Top 5 In Worcester County, Report Says These High Schools Ranked Top 5 In Worcester County, Report Says
These High Schools Ranked Top 5 In Worcester County, Report Says The grades are in, and these high schools are a cut above the rest, according to the community and school ranking site Niche. After considering several key areas, the following schools were ranked in the website’s 2023 “Best Public High Schools in Worcester County” report: No. 1 - Massachusetts Academy of Math & Science in Worcester No. 2 - Westborough High School No. 3 - The Bromfield School in Harvard No. 4 - Shrewsbury Senior High School No. 5 - Algonquin Regional High School in Northborough All five high schools earned an overall grade of A+, receiving top marks in the academics, t…
These School Districts Rank Best In Massachusetts, Report Says These School Districts Rank Best In Massachusetts, Report Says
These School Districts Rank Best In Massachusetts, Report Says Top-performing students are not the only ones getting A+ grades after a report ranked Massachusetts school districts to find out who is best in class. Massachusetts school districts were graded on criteria that include academics, diversity, and administration, and 26 Massachusetts received an A+ grade, according to the community and school ranking site Niche. The Weston Public School District, in Middlesex County, received the highest rating in the state, coming in at the number one position in Massachusetts. It received perfect scores for academics, college prep, and resources and fac…
Western Mass School Staffer On Leave Over Misconduct Allegations Western Mass School Staffer On Leave Over Misconduct Allegations
Western Mass School Staffer On Leave Over Misconduct Allegations A staff member at Four Rivers Charter Public School in Greenfield was placed on administrative leave last week after being accused of misconduct, a letter from administrators said.  Four Rivers Principal Jenni Manfredi sent a letter to parents on Friday, June 16, to alert them to the investigation. She noted that everyone affected had been notified, but Manfredi stopped short of detailing the allegations against the staffer.  We recently received a report regarding alleged misconduct involving a Four Rivers staff member. Upon receiving the report, impacted families were contacted,…
Razor Blade: 12-Year-Old Slashes 11-Year-Old Boy's Hand In Fight At Central Mass Middle School Razor Blade: 12-Year-Old Slashes 11-Year-Old Boy's Hand In Fight At Central Mass Middle School
Razor Blade: 12-Year-Old Slashes 11-Year-Old Boy's Hand In Fight At Central Mass Middle School An 11-year-old middle school student in Worcester County needed stitches after a classmate slashed his hand open with a razor blade during a fight at the school on Thursday morning, May 25.  Blackstone police said the fight broke out at Frederick W. Hartnett Middle School between the 11-year-old boy and a 12-year-old boy around 8:30 a.m. It's unclear what sparked the disagreement.  When the school resource officer arrived, they learned the older boy had snuck a razor blade to school and used it during the fight to slice open his opponent's hand, Blackstone police said. The bo…
Fitchburg High Students Return To Class After Threat Investigation (UPDATE) Fitchburg High Students Return To Class After Threat Investigation (UPDATE)
Fitchburg High Students Return To Class After Threat Investigation (Update) UPDATE: Fitchburg high officials say the police and fire firefighters cleared students to return to class after investigating threats made at the school.  pic.twitter.com/4AX4RPdTrC — Fitchburg Schools (@FitchburgPS) May 17, 2023 --------------- Officials began evacuating Fitchburg High School on Wednesday afternoon, May 17, after they received threats to the school, authorities said in a social media post.  Related: Fitchburg High Put On Lockdown Over Fake Gun In April They did not describe the nature of the threat or when it came in. Calls for information were not immediately retur…
Lockdown Lifted At Central Mass High School After Fake Gun Threat: Officials Lockdown Lifted At Central Mass High School After Fake Gun Threat: Officials
Lockdown Lifted At Central Mass High School After Fake Gun Threat: Officials An unfounded weapons threat sent a Central Massachusetts high school into lockdown on Wednesday morning, April 5, according to the school district.  Fitchburg High School was placed on lockdown around 11 a.m. after staff learned that someone had possibly brought a gun to school, the Fitchburg Public Schools said on Facebook. Fitchburg High School is currently in lockdown due to the potential threat of a weapon in school. School and police... Posted by Fitchburg Public Schools on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 First responders were called to the building, located at 140 Arnhow Farm Road in …
Gum Spicier Than Pepper Spray Sends 6 Western Mass Students To Hospitals Gum Spicier Than Pepper Spray Sends 6 Western Mass Students To Hospitals
Gum Spicier Than Pepper Spray Sends 6 Western Mass Students To Hospitals Six elementary school students from Western Massachusetts were taken to local hospitals after ingesting or coming in contact with a spicy gum product this week, according to officials.  A student who bought the gum online shared it with other students during recess at Dexter Park School in Orange on Tuesday, April 4, Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Teahan-Zielinski reports. "The product contained levels of pepper, which, when some students ingested it, caused digestive issues, including burning in the mouth and esophagus," she said.  "Additionally, students who accepted the product but did n…
Threatening School Shooting: Western Mass Man Held Without Bail After Causing Lockdown, DA Says Threatening School Shooting: Western Mass Man Held Without Bail After Causing Lockdown, DA Says
Threatening School Shooting: Western Mass Man Held Without Bail After Causing Lockdown, DA Says A 46-year-old Northfield man is being held without bail after he allegedly threatened a school shooting on Friday, March 24, authorities said. The threat caused administrators at Northfield Elementary School to lock down the building and order students and teachers to shelter in place.  Theodore R. Sweeney Jr. is charged with threatening to commit a school shooting, two counts of threatening to commit a crime, and disturbing the peace, the Northwestern District Attorney's Office said. Sweeney pleaded not guilty to the charges.  Officials did not say how the threat w…
Tom Hanks Named Harvard University's Class Of 2023 Commencement Speaker Tom Hanks Named Harvard University's Class Of 2023 Commencement Speaker
Tom Hanks Named Harvard University's Class Of 2023 Commencement Speaker Known for countless on-screen appearances, Tom Hanks will soon take the stage to address Harvard University's graduating class of 2023, the school announced on Tuesday, March 21.  The Oscar-winning actor will be the principal speaker at Harvard’s 372nd Commencement on Thursday, May 25, the Harvard Gazette reports.  “A true master of his craft, Tom Hanks has given life to some of the most compelling, beloved, and iconic characters on the screen,” said Harvard President Larry Bacow. "He has contributed to our national culture and expanded our ability to appreciate stories and histories that …
'Borgs' At Early St Paddy's Day Party At UMass Amherst Send 28 To Hospital 'Borgs' At Early St Paddy's Day Party At UMass Amherst Send 28 To Hospital
'Borgs' At Early St Paddy's Day Party At UMass Amherst Send 28 To Hospital More than two dozen students were hospitalized following early St. Patrick's Day celebrations at a university in Western Massachusetts that featured a dangerous drinking trend that is sweeping the nation.  University of Massachusetts Amherst said Amherst Fire handled 28 transports for alcohol intoxication during off-campus gatherings on Saturday, March 4, the school said in a statement.  Authorities said many students were carrying plastic gallon containers, believed to be "borgs." Borg stands for "black out rage gallons," and contain a mix of alcohol, electrolytes and water.  The purpose…