Colleges across the country are starting to feel the effects of a ‘demographic cliff’ caused by steep decreases in the number of college-aged students. And in places like the Berkshires, that issue is in full effect when it comes to K-12 students, leading schools to take necessary steps to keep certain community programs and extracurricular activities alive.
“Fewer students means you might have an inability to field a full football squad,” said Kevin Moran, executive editor of the Berkshire Eagle, whose team has been covering this issue. “Because other schools in the region are feeling those same pains, they are seeking to keep at least a football program alive by coalescing the football players to come together and field the team.”
Moran said another reason school populations are decreasing is the increased popularity of school choice: students deciding to attend a different school rather than the one they’re zoned for.
He added that given the continuing issue of low enrollment throughout the region, entire school districts may be looking at consolidation as a way to sustain a quality education for all students.
Meanwhile, in other regional news, as increased ICE presence and scrutiny of so-called sanctuary cities continues, two city councilors in Holyoke are pushing to declare the city a non-sanctuary city.
Jill Kaufman, reporter, producer and host at New England Public Media, said the two councilors — Kevin Jourdain and Linda Vacon — first filed the order to declare Holyoke as a non-sanctuary city in June, claiming that it could be in jeopardy of losing much-needed federal funds. In a written statement, Holyoke’s Mayor Joshua Garcia said, “To my knowledge, there is no universally accepted definition of a ‘sanctuary city,’ and Holyoke is not — by any definition — a sanctuary city.”
Kaufman said ultimately, this is the mayor’s decision, and the two city councilors are an outspoken minority.
“When you look at the city council overall, it’s just two members of this council,” Kaufman said. “I don’t think that there is an overwhelming voice rising up and saying, ‘Yes, we have to declare ourselves non-sanctuary.’ I just don’t think that’s happening.”
And the continuing saga regarding off-shore wind farms rages on in Eastern Massachusetts and coastal New England.
The latest development is a multistate lawsuit by Massachusetts and more than a dozen other states claiming that President Donald Trump’s memorandum against off-shore wind, which includes freezing assets toward off-shore wind projects, is illegal. According to the New Bedford Light, the states are asking the judge to vacate the memo “and prevent the administration from taking any action to delay or prevent wind energy development.”
Judge William G. Young, who’s hearing the case, has stated that regardless of if he ruled in favor of the states, given the president’s stance on off-shore wind, the federal government could simply start pursuing legal action against each individual project.
“Wouldn’t you then essentially have to be playing this game of Whac-a-Mole?” said Jennifer Smith, senior reporter and podcast host at Commonwealth Beacon. “The judge is basically deciding whether or not it’s worth it, essentially, to say, ‘Yes, this order was in violation of the APA [Administrative Procedure Act] or whether or not it sort of feels like a moot point.”
It’s all on this week’s inaugural Massachusetts news roundtable!
Guests:
- Jill Kaufman, reporter, producer and host at NEPM – New England Public Media
- Kevin Moran, executive editor of the Berkshire Eagle
- Jennifer Smith, senior reporter at Commonwealth Beacon, co-host of the weekly podcast, The Codcast
