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The Board of Library Trustees approved the purchase of LED lights for the library.

Adams Library Needs New Computers

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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ADAMS, Mass. — The Adams Free Library will seek funding to replace its aging public computers.

Library Director Holli Jayko told the trustees Thursday that the public computers in the adult reading room and the children's reading room are now 9 years old.

"We should replace them before they stop working. They are updated but they are getting slower," she said. "New technology would be better for our patrons."

The library would be looking to replace eight machines at a cost of $500 to $750 a piece. Jayko said there is no money for this built into the budget and if she were to purchase them immediately, she would most likely have to pull from state aid and other accounts.

But she thought the computers could survive another year and she may be able to get the new machines in the fiscal 2020 budget.

Jayko was not looking for a motion but said she just wanted it on the trustees' radar. 

"I don't need an answer now, but I want you to think about it," she said. "I won't order until I have talked to everyone again and figure out how we are going to pay for it."

In other business, the trustees voted to allow Jayko to use up to $700 in state aid to purchase 40 energy-efficient LED light bulbs to replace older lights that are burning out.

"We would like to go ahead and replace the lights with LED when they fail," she said. "It is an improvement to the library and there will be as cost savings in the long run."

Jayko specifically said many of the lights in the children's room are starting to burn out.

She said individually the large LED, or light-emitting diode, bulbs are $21 but by buying in bulk she can get them for $15. Forty bulbs would cost $600 and $50 to ship.

The trustees also voted to make a small change to the mobile hotspot lending policy and instead of lending the hotspots out for a maximum of three days, patrons can take them out for a week at a time with one renewal.

"Since it is in our policy attached to our form I have to bring this to you guys," Jayko said. "People started to borrow them and got used to us having them and we have noticed that people need them a little bit longer."

The library implemented the program a year ago and currently, there are five hotspots in rotation.

Bishop said the library's flagpole has been taken down to be repainted and cleaned up.

"The Fire Department took it down," he said. "Right now we are in the process of stripping p[aint We are going to put a new bulb on it, new paint, new flag — the works. I have no idea the last time it was done."

Trustee Brian Bishop said Ashley Swift will perform boiler maintenance in September. He added that boiler return piping also needs some work.

"It leaks and has patches on it," he said.

He said Ashley Swift offered to make the repair for $3,700, however, Bishop thought this was a little steep. He said he will look at other options and try to negotiate a better price.

Jayko said the library posted a soon-to-be-vacated part-time position and she is currently looking through applications for a library aid cataloger. 

"We have begun the application process and I have been reviewing applications," she said. 


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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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