Congratulations to Kaitlyn Bozek and her beautifully written letter in the Recorder earlier this month. Her plea to save our schools (SOS) in the Mohawk Regional School District was very compelling. More impressive is that she is in eighth grade. It is her leadership and willingness to take action that has compelled me to follow suit.

My observation of the last couple of years is that the district administration with the help of the Massachusetts Department of Education is on a one-way train to close all our elementary schools and bus our younger students to the Mohawk campus. It’s called “consolidation.” Like no big deal. And a mantra of our district “is not sustainable!” I recognize considerable effort and work has gone to this end however. I do believe their data is dated and has kept them on their one-way train for too long and they haven’t yet absorbed that life’s pendulum is gaining momentum to swing the other way. We are on the cusp of a major baby boomer shift.

I will speak from my prospective of being an Ashfield resident.

At our Town Meeting, we have a very special moment of silence to remember our townspeople who have passed away since we were last gathered for the last Town Meeting. Over the years we can expect three to six losses.

This year it was a mournfully shocking number of 18. And the trend has continued to five or six since our May, 2026 meeting. I knew all of them. Not hard in a town of well under 1,800 people.

The only consolation I can muster is that some homes are up for sale and one has already sold to a family with children. And meanwhile.

Sanderson Academy of Ashfield has two full preschool classrooms totaling 30 children. And the nonprofit Ashfield Community Preschool is full with a waitlist and parents are registering when the child is five months old or younger knowing how quickly the spaces fill.

So my mantra is “The Times They Are A Changing.” And perhaps the train can slow down. Take another route or stop at the next station! And thank you Kaitlyn for the inspiration!

Nancy Hoff

Ashfield