Adams-Cheshire Committee Moving Pre-K Back To Cheshire

ADAMS, Mass. — The school district's preschool program is going back to Cheshire.

Preschool programs at both Cheshire Elementary and C.T. Plunkett had combined four years ago in Cheshire when Adams Memorial Middle School was closed.

But when the renovated Hoosac Valley Middle and High School reopened, officials felt that the combined program would be a better fit in Adams because the majority of the children come from there.

The switch to Adams upset many parents who fought the move. On Monday, Adams Cheshire-Regional School District officials opted to bring the program back to Cheshire.

"We don't have the space at Plunkett," said Superintendent Kristen Gordon. "We're cramped."

Officials had thought that with the sixth-grade students moving to the renovated school, there would be plenty of room. Gordon, however, said the preschool program's needs are greater than the freed-up space.

The majority of the children with special needs in the program are still from Adams but it won't add to the budget to bus them to Cheshire. Gordon said she looked at separating the programs as they had operated before the closure of the middle school but the teachers prefer the combined program.

The program had a stable home for four years in Cheshire and Gordon said this will be the last change for a while. The School Committee supported the move.

"I don't want to revisit this every year," Gordon said.

62 'Fighting' Hoosac Valley Students Graduate

Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
08:19PM / Friday, June 05, 2026

Class speaker Noah Rehill describes the class of 2026 as having a fighting spirit. See more photos here. 

CHESHIRE, Mass. — The 62 members of the Hoosac Valley class of 2026 were told to hold on to their fighting spirit during their graduation ceremony. 

"What gives me the most pride in Hoosac is the tenacity our students have. Everyone here is so passionate, which is both a blessing and a curse. A blessing because we fight for our wins, and a curse because we do, indeed, fight," said class speaker Noah Rehill on Friday night. "... But nonetheless, you'll never find a bunch of kids from a public high school in rural Massachusetts with that much fighting spirit within them."

 

Rehill said the class of 2026 fought for audiences during performances, they fought on the Student Adult Advisory Board for better school conditions, they fought on the field, and fought through long nights studying.

 

And now they face a different fight.

 

"We've fought all the way through all the scary thoughts of who we would become when we leave this place," he said. "We've fought through college decisions. We've definitely fought through FAFSA. And here we are tonight, fighting through tears as we celebrate everything it took to get here."

 

Rehill thanked all of those who helped along the way including friends, family, and teachers. He said the school is filled with "hundreds of helping hands." He added that their education went beyond just math or social studies, and the graduates picked up some street smarts along the way.

 

He ended by calling out some community members who took to social media to point out the smaller class sizes graduating from Hoosac Valley. He said there was one message that stated Hoosac Valley's glory days were behind it. 

 

"To that I'd say I disagree and not to worry," he said. "Remember, I got this role by knowing all 62 of my classmates better than anybody, and I have to say that there's a certain magic that you may not see from the outside, but that radiates on the inside...What I've learned from the class of 2026 is that greatness isn't about how many people are standing beside you. It's about what kind of people are standing beside you...So, if anyone is worried that the best days at Hoosac are behind us, I got news for you. I think you're looking in the wrong direction, because the best days of Hoosac are sitting right here in front of you. Congratulations, class of 2026, and one last thing: we will always be better than Drury. Roll Canes.