Roof Repairs Eyed For Adams Town Hall

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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The Selectmen heard updates about multiple capital projects being done on Park Street.

ADAMS, Mass. — Town meeting may be asked to repair the roof on Town Hall.

Town Administrator Jonathan Butler said on Wednesday that the roof is sprouting leaks and he is expecting to use some operational funding to get cost estimates.

At town meeting, Butler hopes to get approval to repair.

"We think we are very much in need of a new roof on the building," Butler said. "My fear is that this roof could become a bigger roof problem like we've seen on other town buildings. It's easier to replace the shingles than it is for decking."

The main roof of the building was shingled more than 40 years ago so Butler expects new shingles should do the trick. But he wants approval to fix it now before it grows to be a larger and more expensive project.

The library may need roof work as well but the town has already set aside money to investigate those needs. Three engineering companies have bid on performing a study to find the extent of repairs needed there. The roof, front entranceway and increased accessibility have already been identified as areas to improve the library.

"We have not offered a contract to one of them yet but we expect to in the next week," Butler said.

While those two Park Street buildings may need some sprucing up, so does the street itself and the Selectmen approved the application for federal funding for a streetscape project.

The project includes new pavement, curbs, sidewalks, pedestrian crosswalks, streetscape furnishings and landscaping, according to Director of Community Development Donna Cesan.



The town had sought funding last year for the improvements but were not awarded. This year, town officials are hoping to improve their application by dedicating some of their Chapter 90 highway funds toward it as a match.

The town also has begun researching possible funding sources to work on the Memorial Middle School. The school is in need of long-term repairs and Butler said the town has begun talking with the state and Berkshire Regional Planning Commission about funding.

"We are confident that will reap some benefits for us," Butler said.

In the short term, the town is negotiations with Ooma Tesoro's to lease out a portion of the building. Butler said those negotiations are "moving in a positive direction." The town is also in conversation with the Youth Center for a lease on a separate section of the school but has not entered formal negotiations yet.

In other business, the Selectmen expressed "excitement" over the recent partnership with Berkshire Scenic Railway to run scenic train rides from Adams to North Adams.

Butler said it will be a big help to local businesses with thousands of tourists now being drawn to the downtown.

"We've worked extremely hard for the last four or five years to get people into downtown Adams," he said. "A common theme is that we need something that is big that brings people from outside of the community into our community."


Tags: capital projects,   scenic rail,   

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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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