NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — School officials plan to review the greenhouse program, which is being used for life skills education for older students.

 

The cost of the program was raised during review of the fiscal 2027 budget by the Finance and Facilities committee last week. Three or four students aged 18 to 22 are being served through the special education program at the greenhouse on South Church Street.

 

The discussion came up during the committee's final review and recommendation of a  fiscal 2027 budget of $22,396,047 that will be offset by the transfer of $1,448,692 in school choice funds for a total of $20,947,355.

 

The school district is responsible for educating students up to age 22. The current staffing is a greenhouse manager, a special education teacher and one or more teaching assistants. 

 

"The greenhouse manager is in charge of operations of the greenhouse itself, but not teaching the students, although the students can work with the greenhouse manager," said Superintendent Timothy Callahan. "Almost like an internship, even though these are students with significant disabilities."

 

Committee member David Sookey asked if the life skills program service these children at Drury High School as a "better utilization of resources we already have at the high school."

 

Callahan rsponded that it's a possible model for next year, describing the greenhouse as an adult version of the CASTLE (Collaboration for Autism Spectrum Teaching, Learning and Excelling) program, an individualized special education program for children with autism and communication disorders.