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New Adams-Cheshire Superintendent to Start Next Week

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires Staff
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A lightly attended School Committee meeting approved a three-year contract with new Superintendent Aaron Dean.
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Adams-Cheshire Regional School Committee has approved new Superintendent Aaron Dean's contract.
 
Dean will start Tuesday on the first day of school for the 2019-20 school year. His salary will be $127,500.
 
After a brief executive session Thursday, the School Committee reconvened to unanimously approve the three-year contract.    
 
"Alright, we have a superintendent," Chairman Adam Emerson said.
 
The former principal of Pittsfield's Crosby Elementary School was one of two candidates interviewed earlier this month to replace Superintendent John Vosburgh, who resigned from the position in July after a year on the job.
 
The School Committee unanimously chose Dean over Beth Choquette, principal of Northampton's Bridge Street School, the other finalist.
 
Dean had taught in the school district for more than a decade before being hired by the Pittsfield Public Schools.  All the members of the School Committee echoed the sentiment Dean's specific experience and connection to the district that he taught tipped each their vote in his favor.
 
He will be the district's fifth superintendent in seven years. 
 
The committee also voted to retain the services of interim Superintendent Al Skrocki as a consultant.
 
Skrocki will stay on through October and work on a per diem basis. He had retired from the school district as superintendent in October 2012, following a 38-year career at Adams-Cheshire. Since then, he has worked as an interim administrator in several local districts.

Tags: ACRSD,   HVRSD,   superintendent,   

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Hoosac Valley School Committee Defends Budget

By Daniel MatziBerkshires correspondent
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Hoosac Valley School Committee reaffirmed their support of the Hoosac Valley Regional School District (HVRSD) proposed $23 million budget.
 
On Monday night the school committee and school leaders defended the proposed school district budget that the Cheshire Select Board opposed at one of their own meetings in April. Dean backed the budget, which increased by $1,096,525 over this fiscal year, as being as fiscally responsible as possible.
 
"We're doing a lot of great work here, a lot of work that I'm proud of," Superintendent Aaron Dean said. "And I cannot in good conscience recommend doing anything other than moving forward with this budget."
 
During an April select board meeting, the Cheshire selectmen announced that they were hesitant to adjust their proposed municipal budget that included a level-funded HVRSD assessment. 
 
The school district's proposed budget included a $148,661 increase to Cheshire's assessment.
 
The Cheshire selectmen voted to plan for a Proposition 2.5 override. If the HVRSD budget isn't lowered to their liking, the town will be poised for an override vote - essentially putting the school budget increase to a ballot vote. 
 
Monday, Dean said he was confused why Cheshire took such a strong stance against the budget, especially after it had been openly discussed as far back as January.
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