CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Adams-Cheshire Regional School Committee will push for the completion of the Collins Center report for the first of the year.

 

Interim Superintendent Robert Putnam told the committee Monday that he was recently in contact with the Collins Center, which expected to release the final draft of the commissioned report later than anticipated.

 

"I just spoke with them … and they had predicted the final report in early February which I felt was too late because originally had it prior to that," Putnam said. "So I am waiting to hear back from them because we have to talk this over."

 

The University of Massachusetts' Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management was hired to study the district and provide recommendations that would help the School Committee make cost and organizational decisions going forward. The committee has discussed possibly closing one of the two elementary schools to save money.

 

In other business, Putnam said he plans to purchase nine new security cameras to heighten safety in Hoosac Valley High School.

 

"I think these cameras are incredibly helpful … they have been instrumental in helping resolve issues with things that are happening in the school when there is a disagreement over what actually happened," he said. 

 

Putnam reported that In November, the district lost a few students but gained some as well. He said two students left Hoosac Valley; four enrolled at C.T. Plunkett and six left for a total loss two, and two enrolled in Cheshire Elementary.

 

He said most of the departing students left because they were moving away from the district.

 

"It is fair to say we aren't losing students," he said. "I think the real key is that people are moving." 

 

The School Committee approved a Natures Classroom field trip for Plunkett fifth-graders on March 6 through 10.

 

Putnam said the trip costs $285 and financial aid is available.

 

The committee also approved a trip to the "Body Worlds Vital" exhibit at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence for the Hoosac Valley anatomy and physiology class.

 

"The purpose of the trip is so they can see real life examples of the human body systems in an artful display," Putnam said.