BArT Students Make Strong Gains on State MCAS Exams

Print Story | Email Story
ADAMS, Mass. - Students at Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School demonstrated dramatic growth in recently released 2009 MCAS results. As a school BArT met annual yearly progress (AYP) in both mathematics and English Language Arts and demonstrated significant achievement in all sub-categories.

In ELA 96% of all students at BArT earned a passing grade, and 70% earned a passing grade in mathematics. There was also a 26% improvement in the number of students scoring proficient or advanced in ELA, and a 17% improvement in mathematics.  

Principal Ben Klompus attributes this growth to “the ongoing commitment of all stakeholders—school leaders, teachers, and parents — to build a learning community that supports all students with a rich, college preparatory curriculum based on best practices.”

BArT’s growth on the 2009 MCAS Exams is consistent with similar strong gains made by students on the 2009 Stanford Achievement Tests. At every grade level the majority of BArT students exceeded the national average of other students who also took this exam in both reading and mathematics. 

“Our students’ academic gains are in large part the result of an outcome oriented model,” Klompus said. “The extended learning day, additional class time in ELA and math, and the after school tutoring program are all part of this model.”

For additional information on Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School and its programs, please contact Monique Nottke at (413) 743-7311 x532.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Cheshire Town Meeting Oks Budgets, Debates Potential Prop 2 1/2 Override

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Moderator Carol Francesconi, left, and Anne Marie Furey were presented flowers in memory of the Rev. William Furey, their brother and husband, respectively. The town report was dedicated to him. 
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Town meeting on Monday approved all 35 articles on the annual meeting warrant, including a total spending for fiscal 2027 of more than $8.5 million. 
 
Some 77 of the town's more than 2,500 registered voters filled the Cheshire Community House meeting room, debating on a number of articles during the meeting that lasted nearly three hours
 
The town dedicated its annual report to the Rev. William David Furey, longtime pastor of First Baptist Church and more recently Berkshire Union Chapel in Lanesborough. Furey died last year at age 77.
 
His wife, Anne Marie Furey, and his sister, Town Moderator Carol Francesconi, were presented with a bouquet of flowers in tribute to him. 
 
He was an exemplary member of the community who left a lasting impression in each and every life that he touched, said Town Clerk Whitney Flynn. 
 
Voters approved several warrant articles that make up an operating budget of $3,840,314 for fiscal 2027. Of this amount, $1,642,481 is allocated for the general government budget, which was approved after clarification of a few questions.
 
One item was the administrative assistant's salary. Prior to the annual meeting, the town eliminated the executive assistant salary of $54,309 in favor of a part-time administrative assistant salary of $27,155, to reduce costs considering the financial constraint the town is in. 
 
View Full Story

More Adams Stories