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Elizabeth Bushey is running for a seat on the Board of Selectmen.

Bushey Running for Adams Board of Selectmen

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass. — Political newcomer Elizabeth Bushey wants to bring balance to the Board of Selectmen and bring all voices to the table.
 
"I think Adams is great the way it is," she said. "This is the town, it is beautiful and I want to continue to make it strong … and the way to do that is to listen to everybody."
 
Bushey, who is originally from a Sunderland, Vt., and has a background in human services, said she decided to run because she wanted to make a difference.
 
One of her main concerns is funding education.
 
"A buck is a buck, a kid is a kid, and you don't mix them you don't bargain," she said. 
 
She said it is also important to her to end the conflict between Cheshire and Adams and focus on regionalizing.
 
She added that she also wants to eliminate dishonesty within the town government.
 
"You can't cut corners one day and think that you are going to be OK the next," she said. "If you think you are going to cut corners in a small town it is see through ... you have to be truthful."
 
Bushey said she is also disheartened by the lack of business in town and wants to work to support the businesses that are already in Adams and make it easier for new ones to come in.
 
"We had business here and we should have kept it, we would have had a lot more money," she said. "We have to be at their beck and call."
 
Bushey said she would also be interested in bringing a medical marijuana facility to Adams but that it would be important to make sure the public is comfortable with it.
 
She will vie against Cassie Witek and Christine Hoyt for a three-year seat being vacated by current Chairman Jeffrey Snoonian in the town election on May 1.

Tags: election 2017,   town elections,   


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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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