Julia Bowen, Charter School Director. ( Photo by Glenn Drohan )
NORTH ADAMS — The Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter School has received a major boost from a private corporation that promotes alternative high schools and is moving quickly on plans to pursue a North County location for a regional school.
The Commonwealth Corp. of Boston’s Center for Youth Development and Education announced last week that “BaRT,†as its trustees call it, will receive a $176,000 grant over three years to become part of a nationwide network of high schools based on the “Diploma Plus†model. The schools are intended to help more “at risk†youth graduate from high school and proceed to college through “rigorous coursework and supportive relationships,†according to a Commonwealth Corp. news release.
The Berkshire school, which is scheduled to open this coming September, was among only three schools to receive this year’s grants, which were made possible through a $4.5 million gift from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in February.
“We’re still on Cloud 9,†said Julia Bowen, charter school director. “Most important to us is to be a part of this nationwide network and to bring this kind of attention to Berkshire County.’
Over the next three years, 10 schools nationwide will be part of the network and will work together to compare and analyze programs.
Bowen said the grant money will be used as part of the school’s operational and technical budgets. The regional school for middle and high school students in 10 North Berkshire communities plans to offer all its students laptop computers. The money can only be used for high school programs, however.
“It’s hard to say exactly how it will be used, but a laptop computer for every student is expensive,†Bowen said.
She said BaRT’s proposed curriculum and standards fit perfectly with the Diploma Plus model.
“It has a number of principles that our program is already in line with,†she said. “Promotion and graduation requirements are demonstrated, and performance and demonstration of knowledge. We are developing standards and benchmarks for every class that tie in to a standards-based reporting system.â€
Along those lines, she said, “We expect each student to develop and regularly review and revise their personal education plan.â€
Students will also maintain Web-based digital portfolios of their work, which they will present to a panel of peers, parents and community members — in some cases quarterly.
Bowen said the “plus†part of the Diploma Plus program refers to creating challenging experiences to help young people begin the transition to college or work after they graduate.
“We’ve already created relationships with over 20 business and community organizations that have committed to creating those learning experiences,†she said.
The school is scheduled to open with 88 students and progress to a full enrollment of 308 in 2007.
Last week, the trustees sent out a “request for proposals†(RFP) soliciting building sites in all nine of the communities it will serve: Adams, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, Hancock, Lanesboro, New Ashford, North Adams, Savoy and Williamstown.
Bowen said the preferred choices are Adams and North Adams, but trustees will consider other towns if a “perfect†building can be found.
“If there were a site in Clarksburg, say, that fit all our needs wonderfully and was a good price, we would seriously look at it, knowing we would have to pay for more busing,†she said.
Trustees hope to review up to five finalists for building sites and have a decision by January, although the holidays and building code reviews may push that date into February, Bowen said.
According to the RFP, trustees are seeking proposals that will meet short-term or long-term needs. The school will need a minimum of 9,000 square feet in its first year, 18,000 in the second, 26,000 in the third and 30,000 thereafter. Bowen said trustees would consider a one-year or two-year deal for a smaller building as a temporary measure, if necessary.
Vacant schools, renovated factory or mill space, open land to be developed or multiple homes close enough together to create a “campus†could be considered. Trustees are also looking for a site close to cultural institutions and libraries, with nearby outdoor space within a five-minute walk.
Anyone interested must send proposals by 2 p.m. on Dec. 3 to: Facility Committee, Berkshire Arts & Technology Charter School, 61 Main St., Suite 241, North Adams, MA 01247. Questions about the RFP should be directed to Bowen, 662-2278, or Julia.bowen@bartcharter.org .
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Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.
Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.
The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.
Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.
Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.
Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.
Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.
The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.
The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.
Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.
Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years.
He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.
Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.
Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.
Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.
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