CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Selectmen want to review the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District agreement that ties the small town to its larger neighbor to educate the children of both.

 

Selectwoman Carol Francesconi said at Tuesday's meeting that with the impending closing of an elementary school, she would like to review the district agreement with the Cheshire representatives on the School Committee. 

 

"It hasn't been reviewed as long as I have been on the board and with the situation the way it is, I would feel more comfortable if it is in the best of interest of both towns," said Francesconi, who has served since 1989. "We don't know where this is all going to go ... but we want to protect Cheshire's best interests." 

 

The three members of the board said they have never seen the document in its entirety, even those who at one point served on the School Committee. Francesconi said she wasn't 100 percent sure where the document was stored.

 

The likelihood that one of the two elementary schools will close has become more pronounced over the past two years as the school district has struggled with rising costs and dropping enrollment. The day after the board's latest meeting, the school district hosted a presentation of the University of Massachusetts' Collins Center study of the district that found at least $500,000 could be saved by closing one of the schools. 

 

However, closing Plunkett School in Adams would require an investment in renovations and possibly an addition at Cheshire Elementary. 

 

Francesconi admitted that she has no clear vision on what the town will do in response if Cheshire Elementary was chosen to close but Chairman Paul Astorino said it would be good to be familiar with the document in case Cheshire decides to operate its own school or take other actions.

 

Selectman Robert Ciskowski said it is probably too late to make any changes to the contract that could protect Cheshire.

 

"Unfortunately, what is happening now is this is fast tracking a lot faster than I thought it would," he said. "It seems like we saw it coming and now it is snowballing and gaining speed. I don't like it but it is what it is."

 

In other business, Astorino said construction on the Sand Mill Road Bridge project will begin at the end of the month.

 

• The Selectmen approved the Community Development Strategy Plan that is needed to participate in the state Housing Rehabilitation Program. A minimum of 50 interested homeowners are required by March 1.

 

• Town Administrator Mark Webber has continued to check references of applicants for the Department of Public Works director post. Astorino added that Lanesborough had inquired if Cheshire would be interested in sharing the position. 

 

Astorino said not yet.

 

"Currently, the board is not ready to make that move," he said. "It may have to be considered but as of right now, no."