ACRSD Poised To Hire New Hoosac Valley Principal
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Adams Cheshire Regional School Committee plan to hire a new Hoosac Valley Principal by next week.
Superintendent John Vosburgh told the School Committee Monday 17 people will be interviewed for the position currently occupied by Jeremiah Ames, who plans to leave the district at the end of August.
"This morning we interviewed four candidates and on Wednesday we will interview three more and the candidates that we are looking for are licensed in Massachusetts with principal experience," Vosburgh said. “That’s how we screened our first round.”
Ames was hired as the Hoosac Valley High and Middle School vice principal in January of 2014. That summer he replaced Vincent Regan as principal.
Vosburgh said Ames plans to return to teaching.
"I think he wants to get back into the classroom," he said. "That is what everybody does."
Vosburgh said the search committee will continue interviews and hope to have someone picked by Monday.
He added that they are also continuing interviews to fill the vacant special education director position.
"We certainly want to make sure we hire someone sooner than later," he said.
In other business, the school committee approved a shared services agreement with the Central Berkshire School District to share a technology director.
“I met with Rick White [Central Berkshire technology director] …and we laid the groundwork and looked to see if the responsibilities were doable…we went through the list and he felt very comfortable that with what he currently does and with what folks here are currently doing,” he said. “I don’t want to say it can be done easily, but without major issues.”
Some years ago, the district did hire a technology director, however, eliminated position after one year because of budget shortfalls.
Vosburgh said the Central Berkshire School Committee still must give the agreement its blessing and he will continue to work out the finer details with the technology director.
"I think there is going to need to be a lot of communication and flexibility, but I think this will be a good step forward for the district," Vosburgh said.
The district can terminate the agreement in 30 days or open it up again in a year. Vosburgh said payment will be worked out depending how much time the director spends in each school district.
Chairman Paul Butler added that it is a good opportunity for the district to explore shared services.
"This really gives us the opportunity to try some shared service and see if it fits the needs we have," Butler said. “We know there are other positions we need…and I think this will give us an understanding of how shared services can work.”
The School Committee approved the installation of a smaller sized baseball field on the Hoosac Valley Elementary school grounds.
"We travel to surrounding towns…and they have smaller sized t-ball baseball fields," School Committee member Jennifer Gageant said. "I think it would be nice to have one because it would be amazing to have one here."
Gageant said she contacted the Adams Parks Commission and the town would install the field. She said it would sit between the parking lot and the playground.
Vosburgh said he thought it was a great idea and was surprised there wasn’t a smaller baseball field already.
"I have seen the traffic down there and I think it would be a huge deal," he said. "I was kind of surprised there wasn’t one."
