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The Selectmen will be continuing review of the budget on Wednesday with an expectation of vote of recommendation.

Adams to Purchase Two New DPW Trucks

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass. — The Department of Public Works is requesting the purchase of two new trucks for fiscal 2019.
 
The Selectmen on Monday heard the request as part of their review of the draft $15,643,072 fiscal 2019 budget.
 
Tim Cota, representing the DPW, explained the department's garage and equipment $84,000 capital budget and said a new plow truck is needed to replace one of the two plow trucks currently down.
 
"Those trucks are unserviceable, and we cannot drive them," he said. "They are off the road and are the oldest trucks in the fleet."
 
Cota said both trucks were purchased in the 1990s and when Truck 38's frame cracked the department began to cannibalize it to stretch out Truck 33's life.
 
But this month, a crack was found in Truck 33's frame, taking both the trucks off the road. 
 
Interim Town Administrator Donna Cesan said the town can only use state Chapter 90 road funds to purchase the truck so equipment must be in the budget. She said the truck is likely to cost upwards of $180,000 and an additional $32,000 will be built into the actual budget to purchase the plow and sander for it.
 
She added that with other expenditures, the town will be left with nearly $300,000 in Chapter 90 funds. 
 
Cota said the department is also planning to purchase a smaller truck, an F-150, for $52,000 to replace one that has outlived its usefulness.
 
"We can no longer attach anything to it the hitch is completely rotten, and the bumper is rotten," he said. "You can take the whole bed and lift it off the truck ... it is not in good shape."
 
Cota said the department makes a point to coat its vehicles in a protective fluid and use parts from decommissioned trucks. This same philosophy will be applied to new vehicles. 
 
"We are very diligent with keeping them clean ... but they are still in the nastiness," he said. "And we recycle everything, we don't just get rid of it. When we are done with something it is really no good."
 
Moving on to the Highway Department's $1,346,345 personnel budget, Cesan said there will be a slight increase to accommodate a new full-time laborer position.
 
"It would be the entry position into the department," she said. "We would have one staff person per plow route with this addition, which has been a big problem in the past."
 
The Selectmen also looked at the wastewater treatment plant budget and Superintendent Bob Rumbolt went over his $296,501 operating budget, which saw increases in the chemical line item bringing it closer to what he actually spends.
 
He also outlined the $80,000 capital budget that contained equipment purchases to bring the plant closer to state compliance and fund needed repairs partly driven by residents flushing wipes that are not actually flushable and that damage equipment.
 
Rumbolt added that in the future, he would like to see his parts budget increased.
 
"Since 2012, we have had a budget for parts of $20,000 and a single part can go for $11,000 easily," he said. "In the past, it was closer to $41,000 and I think in the coming years we will have to bump it up because we have been walking a fine line."
 
The Selectmen closed with the Council on Aging personnel budget that will increase 11.34 percent to $219,185. This would be to fund a new employee to oversee and schedule expanded programming.
 
Cesan said this position would only be implemented if the town is granted Community Development Block Grant funds to replace the Memorial Building's HVAC system. She said if this happens, the Council on Aging could move into the larger facility, where there would be more opportunities for programming. 
 
The Selectmen reviewed other department budgets, however, there were few controversial requests or substantial increases.

Tags: adams_budget,   DPW,   fiscal 2019,   

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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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