Adams-Cheshire Schools Open Without a Hitch
 Outgoing Superintendent Alfred Skrocki, center, reported on the opening of the school year at Monday's School Committee meeting at Cheshire Elementary. |
Alfred Skrocki, superintendent of Adams-Cheshire Regional School District, said schools opened on Friday after three days of professional development. So far, there have been no hiccups with either the new school nor the new administration.
The Hoosac Valley Middle and High School received its certificate of occupancy and nearly 500 residents toured the newly renovated building during open tours last week, he said. There are only a few items left to finish, including painting the track and installing a photovoltaic array.
Skrocki said he is hoping to get the track painted in the next two weeks, which is ahead of expectations. The painting will only take a day and a half, he said.
The solar array has been approved and some work is being down at the site. However, the school is still finalizing a few details with National Grid before installation, which will be completed in the middle of November, Skrocki said.
"Other than that, it is just getting used to a new building," Skrocki said.
A representative from Gilbane Construction, the school project contractor, will be on hand through October and Skrocki wants anything that is malfunctioning to be reported and replaced in that time period.
The renovation was completed on schedule and on budget, Skrocki said, and there will a groundbreaking set for Sept. 21 at 12:30 p.m. in the school's gymnasium.
With the new school, Skrocki advocated that the School Committee establish a long-term maintenance account to make repairs the district knows will eventually be needed. For example, the track will need to be replaced in 10 years for what will likely be a cost of $100,000. Skrocki said the school should start putting money aside each year for those types of repairs.
"We should be budgeting into some type of stabilization account," Skrocki said. "We need to take action."
A maintenance subcommittee has already been formed.
The school's three days of professional development gave the staff not only new technology to learn but also new leaders. Vince Regan was hired as the new high school principal and Kristin Gordon is in transition from C.T. Plunkett principal to superintendent. Gordon ran the professional development as a "debut."
"It's like we pick up where we left off," Gordon said of the first days.
In other business, the school district will have about $825,000 certified in the excess and deficiency account, which is a reserve account.
"It essentially equals what we had last year," Darlene Rodowicz, School Committee member, said.
The savings resulted mostly in the savings in health insurance reform, she said.
Tags: Adams-Cheshire, HVHS, school project,
