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The School Committee hopes to hire new principals for two of the district's schools soon.

Adams-Cheshire School Committee Aims To Hire New Principals Soon

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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CHESHIRE, Mass. — School officials hope to have a new high school principal by the end of May and an interim principal for C.T. Plunkett Elementary shortly afterward.

According to Superintendent Alfred Skrocki, two search committees have been formed and the job posting for the high school position closed on May 11. Skrocki said eight candidates have already applied for the position.

"We're hoping to have this completed by the end of May," Skrocki told the Adams-Cheshire Regional School Committee at its meeting Monday night in Cheshire.

Hoosac Valley High School Principal Henry Duval stated his intention earlier this year to take one of the two assistant principal slots at the newly renovated high and middle school this fall. Duval, who has been principal for eight years, said he enjoyed interaction with the students, an aspect of the principal's job that will likely decrease with the addition of the middle school and more administrative responsibilities.

The interim principal position for C.T. Plunkett Elementary School is expected to be advertised on Tuesday. Skrocki is retiring in October and the School Committee appointed Plunkett Principal Kristin Gordon to temporarily fill the superintendent position.

The search committees consist of parents and faculty, Skrocki said. He also said he has developed a transition plan for Gordon to take over his position.

The committee also discussed how to handle the benefits from a new health care law. The committee adopted state law that allows the school district to renegotiate health plans in search of savings, but requires it to pass on 25 percent of those savings back to the employees.

According to the district's Business Manager David Hinkell, the easiest way would be to give employees a premium holiday.

"We need to get this done quickly," Hinkell said. "There are all kinds of ways to mitigate this but the easiest way is a premium holiday."

Tags: principal,   search committee,   

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Adams Community Bank Holds Annual Meeting, Announce Growth

ADAMS, Mass. — The annual meeting of the Community Bancorp of the Berkshires, MHC, the parent company of Adams Community Bank, was held on April 10, 2024, at Charles H. McCann Technical School in North Adams.
 
The meeting included reviewing the 2023 financial statements for the Bank, electing directors and corporators, and highlighting upcoming executive personnel changes.
 
"In 2023, the Bank experienced another year of growth in assets, loans, and deposits, noting the Pittsfield branch reached $26 million in customer deposits from its opening in December of 2022," President and CEO of Adams Community Bank Charles O'Brien said. "Those deposits were loaned out locally during 2023 and helped drive our #1 ranking in both mortgage and commercial real estate lending, according to Banker and Tradesman."
 
At year-end 2023, total assets were $995 million, and O'Brien noted the Bank crossed the $1 billion threshold during the first quarter of 2024.
 
Board chair Jeffrey Grandchamp noted with O'Brien's upcoming retirement, this will be the final annual meeting of the CEO's tenure since he joined the Bank in 1997. He thanked him for his 27 years of dedication to the Bank. He acknowledged the evolution of the Bank as it became the premier community bank in the Berkshires, noting that branches grew from 3 to 10, that employees grew from 40 to 135, and that assets grew from $127 million to $1 billion. 
 
An executive search is underway for O'Brien's replacement.
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