Letter: Vote for Christine Hoyt on May 1

Letters to the EditorPrint Story | Email Story

To the Editor:

Like Christine Hoyt, I am not a native of the Berkshires and chose to make Adams my home. Adams is very fortunate that Christine has offered to serve her chosen hometown as a member of the Board of Selectmen. There are more good reasons to vote for Christine on May 1 than can be included in the word count allowed a letter to the editor, so I will focus on several points that compel me to cast my vote for her.

Christine has the knowledge and experience to improve our town's support for business. Through her profession, including seven years with the Berkshire Chamber of Commerce and three years in the Berkshire Community College Workforce Development office, Christine has worked with a number of businesses, including Berkshire manufacturers, about their needs and plans.

She sees a lot of potential and success stories among Adams' businesses and has the expertise to support and celebrate these successes. Christine and her husband chose their home in Adams for its proximity to downtown, as they saw potential on Park, Hoosac, and Summer streets. They value the progress made in developing and improving those areas, and Christine wants to be in a position on the Select Board to ensure further progress toward a more vibrant business community in Adams.


Second, Christine's enthusiasm to run for Selectman was inspired in part by her participation in Adams' townwide strategic planning process. At each of the four meetings held in 2015, she was among 40 to 60 people who gathered on Saturday mornings to talk about what they want for our town's future. She is eager for the energy and enthusiasm she saw in that process to be rewarded through the completion and publication of a strategic plan for Adams – a plan that would guide our Select Board and Town Administrator.

Next, Christine has demonstrated a commitment to our town through her successful community service on the Boards of Directors of both Youth Center Inc. and ProAdams, as a member of the Adams Economic Development Commission, and as a Precinct 1 Town Meeting Member.

Finally, Christine Hoyt is proven as a smart, clear thinker and a collaborative leader who will make my adopted hometown better. Please join me in voting for Christine Hoyt for Selectman on May 1.

Dianne M. Cutillo
Adams, Mass.

 

 


Tags: election 2017,   endorsement,   town elections,   

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