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Of 150 town meeting members, 87 attended Thursday's special meeting.

Adams Approves Borrowing For Hurricane Irene Fixes

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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Town officials expected the bond question to pass.
ADAMS, Mass. — Town meeting members unanimously approved Thursday bonding $191,000 to pay for the repairs following Hurricane Irene last August.

A total of 87 of the 150 town meeting members approved the article allowing the town to borrow at Thursday's special town meeting, which was postponed from Monday because of Hurricane Sandy.

The Finance Committee "strongly" endorsed borrowing.

According to Town Administrator Jonathan Butler, the town will have its bond agent borrow the money next week. Butler anticipates a 1.25 to 2 percent interest rate.

"The town's going to pursue a five-year borrowing," Butler said.

Butler said interest rates for one-year bonds are lower and the town will likely put it out for one-year notes each year until the total is paid. During those five years the payments will come from the town's capital budget.

Last September, the Selectmen approved deficit spending for the "emergency repairs." The town then spent nearly $800,000 in various repairs to roadways, property and waterways but the town received about $600,000 in federal reimbursements.

Town meeting last less than 20 minutes with little discussion. Town officials were not concerned about the vote itself but because of the delay, they were worried about having a quorum.

Town meeting members also approved two other articles for the Retirement Board. Article 2 increased the minimum retirement allowance for a surviving spouse, should an employee die before retiring from $250 to $500 per month. Article 3 increased the annual minimal allowance for the surviving spouse of a disabled retiree from $6,000 to $9,000 annually.

Both of those articles also passed unanimously.

Tags: borrowing,   Irene,   pension,   special town meeting,   

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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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