image description
Town meeting members at Bowe Field last year. The town meeting will again be held at the agricultural field to ensure social distancing and ventilation.

Adams Town Meeting to Be Held Outside Again

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story
ADAMS, Mass. — The Selectmen set a June 21 town meeting and plan to hold it outside at Bowe Field. 
 
During a short meeting Wednesday, Chairwoman Christine Hoyt said she wanted to nail down a town meeting date so she could begin planning an outdoor town meeting this summer.
 
"I understand the logistics would be similar, if not the same, as they were in September," she said.
 
To accommodate better ventilation and social distancing during the pandemic, town meeting was held outdoors at Bowe Field last September. The town utilized the pavilion along with additional tents. 
 
With a second vote, the Selectmen opened the town warrant. It will close on May 6.
 
In other business, the Selectmen appointed Natasha Beauchesne as a library aide/cataloger. 
 
"I look forward to starting at the library," she said. "I am very passionate about it."
 
Library Director Holli Jayko said Beauchesne will replace a retired employee and bring staff numbers level.
 
"She comes with high recommendations from her references," she said. "Her background and education make her an excellent candidate."
 
Beauchesne is from Dalton.
 
The Selectmen also appointed seasonal staff.
 
Hoyt said the six employees have worked with the town in the past. She said three of them helped prepare Bellevue Cemetery for Williams Evans' funeral last week.
 
The Selectmen approved the installation of a utility pole on Friend Street to service a house on West Burt Street.
 

Tags: town meeting 2021,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

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.
 
View Full Story

More Adams Stories