Adams Fire District Gets Second Open Meeting Law Complaint

By Brian RhodesiBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass. — The Adams Fire District has received its second Open Meeting Law complaint in the last month, despite the insistence of the Prudential Committee and legal counsel that it has complied with the law.

 

The committee reviewed the new complaint, filed by resident Catherine Foster, on Monday.
The complaint, 
similar to one made by Foster earlier this month, alleges the board did not properly advertise the June 16 special meeting and did not post it in Cheshire.

 

District Counsel Stephen Pagnotta said he thinks the district has followed the law with its meeting postings in both cases. He said the special meeting and others did not have to be posted in Cheshire because it is not within the district boundary. 

 

"One of the outcomes of this is there will be an answer from the Attorney General's Office, which I trust will say we've complied with what we are required to do and that should put an end to these types of complaints," he said. "The fire district has complied with the law, has complied with its bylaws in posting this and all other meetings." 

 

Prudential Committee member Richard Kleiner said he is concerned by the complaints. He said he wishes Foster would have come to the district office to discuss the issue before filing them. 

 

"I personally, not as a board member, I personally, as a resident of the Adams Fire District, find it to be a form of harassment," he said.

 

In other business, the district discussed a draft of the memorandum of understanding for providing water to the Greylock Glen. The district members last year voted to assume responsibility as the "parent system" for the water system that will service the Glen. This is contingent on the town's reimbursing the Fire District for all expenses.

 

"When [the Prudential Committee] approve this, I still need the town to say, 'yep, this is good,'" said Superintendent John Barrett, who wrote the draft. "And then this stuff has to go to legal representation to be drawn up and have it all legally written up."  

 

After reviewing it, the committee decided to wait until the next meeting to take further action on the memorandum so they and the town could discuss fees and other potential issues. 

 

"I think you and the treasurer should sit down and think about this and come to us with your opinion before we vote on anything," Kleiner said. 

 

The board also approved the job description and posting for a laborer/operator position.

 


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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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