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New Tourism Director Samantha Talora introduced herself to the board and discussed the development of the new visitor website.

Adams Ratifies Two New Police Officers

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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Brenna Dorr and Colby Clark were ratified by the Selectmen as full-time patrolmen. They have complete the reserve academy and will attend the state academy in the fall.

ADAMS, Mass. Two new officers have been added to the police force.

The Selectmen last week ratified Brenna Dorr and Colby Clark as full-time patrolmen in advance of their academy training.

The town had been unable to fill two vacant positions on the force for some time because of the lengthy civil service process.

Dorr has been in the police reserves for two years and Clark has been in the reserves for a year. They have both completed their reserve training and will be sent to the academy in August.

"I am not easily impressed,…and these two young people highly impress me," Police Chief Richard Tarsa told the board. "…I think very highly of these two, and they are going to be a tremendous asset not only to the force, but to the town of Adams; I look forward to working with them for many years."

The new officers were one of several personnel issues the board took up during its meeting on Wednesday.

New Tourism Director Samantha Talora officially introduced herself to the board. She discussed the development of the new visitor website, which is in its testing phases and should be running live this fall.

"It's going to work like a chamber website does," Town Administrator Jonathan Butler said. "It's not about government services; it's about what is going on in town."

The board also announced its town administrator transition plan as it searches for a replacement for Butler, who will leave by the end of his contract next year.

The board plans to hire someone internally to shadow Butler so if he leaves the position early, someone is ready to work fill in the interim. If an internal candidate cannot be found, an the board will hire from outside.


Butler said he is in conversation with a few department heads about shadowing him and acting as the interim town administrator. He will have some candidates for the Board of Selectmen by the end of this week

The board also announced the makeup of the town administrator search committee. The committee will have seven members and is open to anyone. Those interested can send a cover letter to Town Hall or an email explaining why they would like to be on the committee and why they are qualified. The selectmen will close the openings Wednesday, June 11.

The search committee will meet and discuss how they will proceed with the search, advertising, and the interview process. Chairman Arthur "Skip" Harrington said volunteers must be able dedicate a large amount of time to the committee.

Butler said that there is an opening in the Cemetery Commission that was left unfilled from the last election. The commission requested that the board fill the open position until the next election. The selectmen asked that anyone interested send in a cover letter and a resume explaining why they are qualified for the appointed position.

The board is also in the process of conducting interviews for a new Department of Public Works director.


Tags: Adams Police,   appointments,   DPW,   town administrator,   

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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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