BArT Charter Public School Announces 2011Scholars

Print Story | Email Story
ADAMS, Mass. — The Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School is pleased to announce this year’s recipients of the BArT Scholars awards.

These awards were created through the generous support of a donor who wanted to provide BArT students with college scholarships and encourage families to begin saving for their children’s college expenses.

“We see so many students who believe college is out of their reach for financial reasons. This program helps students and families understand that if students prepare themselves academically for college, they should be able to find money to help pay for it,” said Julia Bowen, the school’s executive director. “Its also important to encourage families to start saving for college early – even $100 a year, less than $10 a month – will make a difference.”

The 2011 BArT Scholars are: AJ Morrisette, Heather Belisle, Noah Chicoine, Angela Stanley, Colin Douglas, Drew Grady, Dyllan McLear and Cassidy Matthew.

The BArT Scholars Program, launched in the 2007-2008 school year, provides scholarship money to students who demonstrate significant academic achievement or growth during the school year. Academic performance is measured by students’ results on the MCAS exams. Students who achieve the highest combined scaled scores on the English and math exams, or the highest combined student growth percentile on the English and math exams, in each of grades 6, 7, 8 and 10 receive a scholarship of $100 to be invested directly into an IRS-qualified college savings or investment fund.

On Oct. 13, from 5 to 6:30 p.m., representatives from Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority  will present an information session at BArT at for all families interested in setting up college savings and investment accounts. All participants, including BArT Scholar recipients who do not already have a fund in their name, will be able to set up accounts that evening.

BArT is a tuition-free public middle and high school focused on preparing students for college. One hundred percent of BArT’s graduates have passed a college course and have been accepted into college prior to graduation.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Adams Man Gets 20 Years for Child Sex Assault

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An Adams man has been sentenced to 15 to 20 years in state prison for sexually assaulting a child. 
 
Michael Hiser, 39, was found guilty by a Superior Court jury on June 11 of single counts of aggravated indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, indecent assault and battery on a child under 14 and indecent exposure; two counts of posing or exhibiting a child in the nude, and three counts of photographing an unsuspecting nude child.
 
He was sentenced on Tuesday to prison for the aggravated indecent assault, with further sentencing of eight to 10 years for the indecent assault, four to five for the photographing and 2 1/2 for indecent exposure, all to be served concurrently. Hiser was also sentenced to five years probation on the posing or exhibiting charge, with conditions not to contact or go near the victim and no unsupervised contact with minors. He will have to register with the Sex Offender Registry Board and take sex offender treatment. 
 
Investigators found that from approximately 2020 to 2022, Hiser would sneak into the victim's room at night to inappropriately photogram and touch them inappropriately. Additionally, he would follow the victim around the house and photograph them with inappropriate intent. An additional incident involved the defendant acting in a sexual manner in the presence of the minor and the investigators found multiple explicit images of the victim on Hiser's phone.
 
"Cases of child abuse and child sexual abuse shake the foundation of our community," said Berkshire District Attorney Timothy Shugrue. "Today justice has been served on behalf of a child who survived unimaginable abuse. While the guilty verdict and lengthy sentence do not take away any of the horrific crimes the defendant committed, I hope today provides an opportunity for both the child and their family to move forward."
 
Chief of the Child Abuse Unit Andrew Giarolo represented the commonwealth and Associate Director of Victim Witness Advocates Kristen Rapkowicz served as the victim witness advocate on behalf of the DA's Office. The Adams Police Department with assistance from a Williamstown Police Department's Berkshire Law Enforcement Task Force digital evidence unit officer led the investigation.
View Full Story

More Adams Stories