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The Adams-Cheshire School Committee agreed to the leasing of a new truck for the high school.

Hoosac Valley High School to Get New Truck

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Adams-Cheshire Regional School Committee approved an agreement to purchase a new $34,709 truck to replace the deteriorating truck currently at the high school.

Business Manager David Hinkell requested that the committee approve a lease-to-own purchase agreement for a new truck with a plow to replace the old truck purchased in 2000.

The district will obtain the truck from Adams dealership McAndrews-King and will pay the much cheaper municipal rate.

Hinkell said he solicited several quotes including used trucks, but thought $34,709 was the best deal.

The truck will be red to match the school colors and it is in stock and ready to be picked up.

Hinkell said this is important because the current truck is unusable.

"It's really bad," he said. "On the bed, if you put your hands on the side wall, you can rip the sidewall right off."

The truck will most likely get scrapped and he does not anticipate being able to sell it.

Hinkell also reported that Cheshire School has been experiencing sewer issues in the west wing.

A contractor found that an underground cast-iron pipe had deteriorated and placed a liner in it to smooth it out.

"It could potentially be a major issue, and we are going to take a better look in the spring when the ground thaws out, but for now we think we have a fix," Hinkell said.

Committee member Edmund St. John IV said the Audit & Evaluation subcommittee has continued work on the budget.

"We discussed possible scenarios and we looked at areas of potential savings that our business office has identified," he said. "I think it will bring to a number that is workable."

Although he would not go into detail about possible scenarios, St. John said the subcommittee will meet with both Cheshire and Adams to discuss options.

Committee member Brian Astorino reported that the technology subcommittee would like to update the website. Areas of improvement would be the calendar, the layout and the directory page. Input will be sought from teachers and parents.

"We want to talk to teachers and see what they want in a website and get some public input from some parents," he said.  

Chairman Paul Butler said he would like the website to showcase more school and student achievements. 


Tags: ACRSD,   school committee,   

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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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