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Several members of the Adams Board of Selectmen are still meeting in person but far enough apart to abide by social distancing; the other members and officials have been calling in.

Adams Preparing for 'Very Conservative' Budget for Fiscal 2021

By Jeff SnoonianiBerkshires Staff
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Town Administrator Jay Green says if town meeting cannot vote on a budget before June 30 there is the option of going month by month until it can. 
ADAMS, Mass. — Town Administrator Jay Green expects to present a "very conservative" town budget on schedule. 
 
Green told the Board of Selectmen on Wednesday night that the budget process is moving forward, although conditions remain far from optimal. He said he and Town Accountant Mary Beverly will be ready to present to the board and the Finance Committee on schedule. He also has scheduled several meetings over the next two weeks to hear from both the Hoosac Valley and McCann school districts along with all other town department heads. 
 
Given the nature of the virtual meetings it is best to check the town's website for dates and instructions to attend these electronically.
 
Green said the town, much like everyone else, is doing the best it can given the overriding fiscal uncertainty.
 
"The COVID-19 health crisis and requirements to socially distance do not make for conducive local government, particularly under a town government system. We're doing our best to try to meet the tenets of open meeting and to try to steer through," he said.
 
"In terms of the budget itself, we have been very conservative in how we've budgeted. You'll hear me say this on multiple occasions over the next 60 days, it is a moving target. We don't know what the state budget is going to look like. That flows down to every municipality. We have a conservative budget and we'll put it forward."
 
The state is in the process of rebuilding a budget for fiscal 2021 in light of the drastic reductions in revenues projected through the end of 2020 because of the novel coronavirus. 
 
The fiscal 2021 budget has to be approved at town meeting by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, which might prove difficult given the social distancing guidelines — an auditorium full of people would violate every current regulation. If town meeting were postponed past that date, the town would have to revert back to its 2020 budget and work on a month-to-month basis.
 
Green said they are preparing for both scenarios.
 
"We have to essentially prepare two plans. If not that then this, if not this then that. That requires us to be very nimble," he said. "We will be ready for either scenario but let's keep our fingers crossed that these restrictions will ease up when we get to town meeting."
 
Chairwoman Christine Hoyt said the board has already had discussions with Town Moderator Myra Wilk and others involved in the process as to what town meeting might look like. They are even considering the possibility of splitting up town meeting to different locations or holding it virtually. There are 150 elected town meeting members, although some may not be able to attend and some seats are vacant. The meeting is also open to members of the public.
 
The annual town meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 22, almost a month later than normal. The board opened up the warrant for the town meeting in order to give citizens time to put a petition on the ballot if they so choose. Petitions must be turned in to the town clerk's office no later than close of business on May 20 and contain the required 10 signatures.
 
During his standard COVID-19 update, Green said the town had no new cases in the last two weeks but cautioned the public on reading too much into that.
 
"We've gone for a pretty decent amount of time now with no new cases. Although it may feel as though we're winning the battle ... the battle is not yet over. We have to remain vigilant and continue to abide by the rules as best as possible."
 
In a bit of good news, Green reported the town received a $50,000 Community Compact grant from the state to review a capital improvement plan for the wastewater treatment plant. Engineering firm Tighe & Bond will be performing the study for the town.
 
Town Clerk Haley Meczywor also reminded residents that with current gathering restrictions, the best bet for the upcoming town election on June 1 might be absentee or early voting. She said ballots are available now and can be obtained by calling Town Hall at 413-743-8300 and leaving a message at Ext. 176. 
 

Tags: adams_budget,   fiscal 2021,   town meeting 2020,   

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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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