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Adams Cemetery Commission Gets Engineering Bill

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass. — Some members of the Cemetery Commission aren't happy about the cost of a $20,000 engineering study.
 
The commissioners had some concerns at their recent meeting after being hit with a $10,000 bill for a structural analysis of the Bellevue Cemetery garage and a $9,500 bill for a systems analysis from EDM Services for a report that they have yet to see. 
 
"We have to see the report because right now we are in limbo," Chairman Jim Taylor said. "Let's get the report and go from there. That's all we can do."
 
For the past few months, the commission has pursued a resolution for storage issues at Bellevue Cemetery. With one shed on the verge of falling down, all the town has to rely on for storage is an old cement-block garage.
 
Former Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco contracted EDM before he left his post to survey the current garage and look at different options such as updating the structure, adding on to it or building an entirely new structure.
 
However, some commissioners did not recall issuing permission to the town administrator and Commissioner Fred Hobart did not recollect giving Mazzucco permission to go ahead.
 
"I never voted to have this analysis done. Tony brought that to us, He did it on his own," Hobart said. "I'm not taking this money out of our funds it should come out of the general fund ... Tony left us hanging."
 
Commissioner Bruce Shepley said the commission did give Mazzucco permission to begin the study and although they should have asked him where the money would come from to fund the study, it is still part of the project.
 
"Let me put a different spin on it. We didn't ask where the money would come from, but nobody objected," he said. "This is related to the project and we have been discussing this for three or four months. Whether it is engineering or a feasibility study, it's part of the overall cost."
 
He added that Mazzucco attended meetings in the past and did tell the committee he was still waiting on the report and the commission never questioned him.
 
Taylor agreed that the commission did give the town the go-ahead but thought the reports would contain costs analysis and options instead of engineering.
 
Department of Public Works Director David Nuvallie said all projects legally need engineering and the report itself may have these different options in it. He said the report is probably complete.
 
"I am sure a report was generated for both those bills there has to be a report," he said. "We just don't know where they are. Probably somewhere in the building."
 
Interim Town Administrator Donna Cesan informed the commission that she had a copy of the report and was unaware that the commission did not receive one.
 
"I think we need to make sure you all have that information and I would be happy to come to your next meeting because I need your input," she said. "Again, I am sorry I did not know that you did not get that information."
 
In other business, the commission said cremation burials will cease until April because of frost.

Tags: cemetery commission,   

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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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