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The Cemetery Commission is considering a smaller garage.

Adams Look At Smaller Cemetery Garage Project

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass. – The Cemetery Commission will ask engineers to scale down the refurbishing of the Bellevue Cemetery Garage.
 
The Cemetery Commission met with EDM engineer Jeromy Richardson and architect Tim Widman to go over a report outlining three different options for the 50-year-old Department of Public Work’s garage and the commission agreed to look at a budgeted repair option.
 
"We have all the backup information and if you give us a dollar amount we can figure out the best strategy with that amount of money," Richardson said. 
 
This project started last year when former Town Administrator Tony Mazzucco asked the Commission to consider using Cemetery funds to possibly install a prefabbed building to replace the two structures at the cemetery.
 
With the white storage shed at Bellevue on the verge of collapsing, the commission felt it was a good opportunity to possibly build additional storage off the current garage or build completely new.
 
The commission was working with $100,000 budget but quickly realized this may not be enough after seeing the report that outlined three options: revamping the current garage, revamping and adding onto the garage and a new building. All of these options were well over $100,000.
 
The commission quickly took the new build option off the table because estimates ran over $500,000, however, the two other options had the commission spending between $137,000 and $450,000.
 
But the EDM representatives said the building is structurally sound and their report is on the conservative side and can be modified to fit a budget.
 
"It is not insulated, it needs a new roof and we should replace the windows," Richardson said. "Should we replace the windows? Yes. Do we have to? No. We can still go through the value engineering phase and help you save money."
 
Richardson added that they can back out utility work, window replacement, and other things that although should be dealt with are not critical to the building’s operations. Widman said even the retaining wall, which they recommend replacing, could be scaled down and a simple regrading may do the trick.
 
Richardson said there is one crack in the building that will need to be fixed but said it can be repaired for a few thousand dollars. 
 
Chairman Jim Taylor added that even if they update the current structure there will still be a storage issue without the while storage shed. He said they may need to budget in some kind of additional structure even if it is just a prefabricated shed. 
 
Commissioner Fred Hobart still wanted to look at the possibilities of building new. 
 
"No matter what we do to fix the old building it will still be an old building and I think we should build new," he said. "We may have to spend a little more money but in the long run, it would be more feasible."
 
Richardson said even if they were to pull out the bells and whistles and simply install a prefabricated building, the current cement slab would not hold the new building. He said a new slab would have to be put down and new construction would trigger code updates. 
 
Richardson asked if it was possible to budget in upgrades and add on to the project as money replenishes.
 
Commissioner Bruce Shepley said the account they are drawing from will not replenish.
 
"That money has been there a long time and over the years has just been sitting there collecting no interest, so it will not replenish itself," he said. "We have what we have."
 
He added that optimally they do not want to run down their account completely and said, although he must check with the town accountant, after paying for the report they have about $80,000 to play with.
 
"If we go above that we have to go to the town and ask for money and there are greater priorities in town than a garage," he said. 
 
Shepley said he would firm up a budget number for EDM to work with and Richardson said he would mark what the town could do on their own to save money in the secondary report.
 
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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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