Cheshire to Seek Proposals for Former School Building

CHESHIRE, Mass. — The town will release a request for proposals for the use of Cheshire Elementary School.

Selectwoman Carol Francesconi relayed a recommendation from the Reuse Committee to the full board Tuesday to release an RFP after receiving some interest after a request for expressed interest.

"We would like to have an RFP go out for the one or two that showed interest," she said.

Since the school's closure last year, the town formed a committee that has been formulating possible uses for the building.

Francesconi said the town received two RFEIs: One from Head Start of Pittsfield and one from Dancecapade of Adams.

Currently, the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District's central office is the only lease in the building and Francesconi said both Head Start and Dancecapade could join them in the building with room to spare.

Selectman Edmund St. John IV added it would be nice to be able to consolidate all three organizations to one portion of the building.

The town is not looking to sell the building but only to lease.

The Selectmen's meeting ran shorter than usual and the board members discussed what items they would like to see on the town meeting warrant.

One item Francesconi said she hopes the town can take some action on at town meeting is an article that would increase the size of the board from three to five members.

This article was brought forth via citizens' petition some years ago and has been through several iterations of town meeting. One as recent as last town meeting.

Because the town improperly executed the action, it must vote again this summer. Once approved it will be sent to the state for approval. If approved, it goes to a ballot vote.

Town Administrator Mark Webber said the increase could be in action by 2019.

Francesconi said she was still hesitant to increase the board when it is so hard to fill other town positions.

"By the same token we can't even get people to run for existing offices and we are going to increase the select board," she said. "We can't fill the School Committee, the Cemetery Department and multiple other offices."

Berkshire Community College Graduates Historically Large Class

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:41AM / Saturday, May 30, 2026

Class valedictorian Jeremiah Reagan says he found himself at BCC in in nursing, earning his associate's degree from the program. See more photos here. 

LENOX, Mass. — The largest Berkshire Community College class in more than 10 years crossed Tanglewood's stage on Friday night.

 

It was also President Ellen Kennedy's last BCC commencement in the position, as she will step down at the end of June.

 

"It has been the greatest gift of my professional life to have been on this journey with you, all of you," Kennedy said. 

 

"Though our paths will now diverge, I know that the memories, the relationships, the moments of conflict and pain that led to new possibilities and growth, those will stay with me always." 

 

The 341 graduates in 38 programs of study earned a total of 377 awards: 218 associate degrees, and 159 certificates. This is the highest number of graduates the college has had since 2014, when it conferred awards to 362 students.

 

Graduates ranged in age from 17 to 68, and while a majority live in Massachusetts, others are from Connecticut, Kentucky, New York, Vermont, and West Virginia.

 

Travis Murach, who earned an associates degree in liberal arts, took the mic as he crossed the stage to receive his diploma to say he had been at BCC for a total of 15 years, dropped out three times, and has finally done it.