Adams Receives Bids on Planned Train Station

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass. — The town received three bids for part of the $552,000 Adams Station and Park project on Hoosac Street.

The former car wash will be transformed to welcome visitors from the Berkshire Scenic Railway's Hoosac Valley Service that will eventually have a terminus there.

The project involves demolition and removal of pavement, installation of underground and electrical utilities for street lights, construction of a metal shade structure, a chain link fence, benches and tables, and landscaping. The exterior will be renovated to look like a train depot.

The structure will host exhibits and information on the town and the railway; a 300-foot-long boarding platform will eventually be built.

The lowest bid came in from Burke Construction Co. at $233,233.

The highest was J.H. Maxymillian Inc. at $385,850; Caracas Construction Corp. bid $286,000.

The town received a $386,820 Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities grant that covers about 70 percent of the project’s costs. The town will balance that with $165,000 from free cash, which was approved during town meeting in March.


Tags: scenic rail,   train stations,   

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Hoosac Valley High School is Moving and Shaking

There have been some major shifts within the Hoosac Valley Regional School District recently, all of which have focused on enhancing the student experience to make it a place where ALL students can find their path.
 
In 2023, Hoosac Valley High School was designated an Innovation Pathway School by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and has since restructured the Program of Studies, utilized creative scheduling, and expanded internship opportunities. Part of this transformation includes participating in a "Portrait of a Graduate" cohort alongside four other Berkshire County schools to determine a collective vision for student success, in partnership with the BARR Foundation.
 
The Innovation Pathways at HVHS are designed to give students coursework and experience in a specific high-demand industry, such as technology, engineering, healthcare, or life sciences. Currently, Biomedical Science & Healthcare and Environmental Studies have received official state IP designation. In addition to the IP designated pathways, HVHS offers programs in Engineering & Technology, Business & Entrepreneurship, Arts & Entertainment, Education, and Sports Medicine. The result is that students have an opportunity for a transformative experience – enabling them to build essential skills, gain awareness of future career opportunities, and make informed choices about post-secondary education in promising fields.
 
Principal Colleen Byrd notes, "What makes our program special is that entry into the Pathway of your choice allows a student to access Advanced Placement and dual enrollment college courses, as well as internships in the community to set them up for success after high school."
 
The Portrait of a Graduate initiative consists of a team of Hoosac educators and students who exemplify the essential skills, practices, and beliefs that define learning experiences across the district. They work to outline the competencies, values, skills, and knowledge that define our vision for student success – keeping in mind that not every student's pathway will look the same. The District's goal is to ensure that all students graduate as responsible people, prepared individuals, lifelong learners, global citizens, critical thinkers, and thoughtful communicators.
 
Another recent change district-wide in grades K-12 is the "Crew" culture. Teachers and students now have time each day to create positive connections and build authentic relationships with one another. Through Responsive Classroom at the elementary school and Crew at the middle and high schools, students and staff gather for 30 minutes each day to engage in meaningful experiences rooted in mutual and shared interests. 
The Crew block is a prioritized structure that allows staff to support all students socially, emotionally, and academically – anchoring them and promoting the Portrait of a Graduate competencies. Crew takes many forms at the high school, such as gardening, bird watching, yoga, and sports talk with visits to college games.
 
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