Adams-Cheshire School Committee Chairman Will Not Seek Re-election
The School Committee hears about a science curriculum from the elementary teachers.
At the end of Monday's meeting, Butler, an Adams representative, said he will be stepping away this May after 19 years on the committee, many of them as chairman.
"I have come to the difficult conclusion that I will not seek re-election," Butler said. "Balancing the increased needs of family and the requirements of being a School Committee member, I feel like can no longer give the appropriate amount of attention to each one of those without taking away from the other."
Butler said he has enjoyed his time with the district.
"I have been at this a long time and it has been a good time. I have enjoyed a lot of the people I a have worked with over the years," he said. "It has always been pleasure representing the district and a bigger pleasure watching the enthusiasm on the faces of those who come before us."
He was appointed to the committee in 2000 to complete the last year of a vacant term and then won six consecutive three-year terms, largely unopposed.
The Hoosac Valley High graduate has calmly led the committee through some difficult times in recent years — from bruising budget battles to the heartbreaking decision to close a school — but was also chairman for the opening of the newly renovated high and middle school.
School Committee members told Butler he will be missed.
"You have been a rock to this School Committee and 19 years is a long time," Peter Tatro said. "I am only in my first term so that is pretty amazing what you have done for this community."
"You will be missed," Adam Emerson said. "Thank you for your service to the community."
"It has been great working with you all of these years," Regina Hill said. "You have been a great mentor and you have done a lot for this district."
Butler said he leaves with a heavy heart but feels the committee and district are in good shape.
"I feel like the School Committee is in good hands there are some new young people here and I think we have some good new talent that will be an asset to the district in years to come," he said. "We have a new superintendent and a cohesive administrative team."
In other business, the committee heard from Hoosac Valley Elementary Principal Michele Colvin, who asked a group of second-grade teachers to present their Berkshire Regional Arts Integration Network (BRAIN) training and how they have implemented it in the classroom.
"It is a really great night when I get to talk about celebrating kids and teachers and tonight I get to do both," she said.
Colvin said the program is run through Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and helps teachers integrate art into their curriculum. She said the four teachers present participated in the program over the summer.
Teacher Bethany Kelley said her students focused on the theme space and after reading a story about space then took a "deep dive" and looked at different space photos to gather "evidence."
She said they then debated whether they wanted to explore the ocean or outer space.
"They had to come up with some great debates and they really thought deeply about it and tried to make each other switch sides," she said.
Then they took space vocabulary and created their own stop-motion animation.
"They came up with the design and how they wanted to portray the words," Kelley said. "They were in charge of filming and everything ... the best part is they were able to explain why they chose certain designs."
Teacher Laurie Cantarella said her students read a story about the desert and after gathering evidence and creating brochures encouraging people to visit the desert, made rain sticks.
"We tied in science, music, dance, art — it was a great collection of all of these things coming together," she said. "Student engagement was really evident in these lessons."
Art teacher Wendy Lamberton, who integrated science into her curriculum, said she really enjoyed how BRAIN encouraged teachers to work together across departments.
"We were able to collaborate and work together in our building which is wonderful," she said. "The classroom teacher has a chance to meet with the art teacher, the music teacher, the drama teacher. They are able to collaborate with their lessons."
Colvin said she would support continuing the program and would encourage teachers to partake in the classes.
"I would support any teacher who wanted to do this," she said. "The collaboration is great and the high level of engagement for students is amazing."
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