image description — When the building was originally dedicated in 1923, it was referred to as the "Cheshire School and Community House."

Cheshire Considering Changing Name of Former Elementary School

By Brian Rhodes04:56AM / Wednesday, October 19, 2022Print Story | Email Story

CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Board of Selectmen is considering changing the name of the former Cheshire Elementary School building, or rather changing it back, to the Cheshire Community House.

The board discussed the proposal at its meeting on Monday. When the building was originally dedicated in 1923, it was referred to as the "Cheshire School and Community House."

"A proposal was brought forward to me based on a plaque that was found in the old school," said Board Chair Michelle Francesconi. "The original section of the elementary school, it was also named the Cheshire Community House and that plaque reflects such."

Francesconi said the change would be fitting for the 100-year anniversary of the building's dedication, which is next year. She said it is important, however, to have community support for the name change.

"It seemed fitting in the proposal that community house," she said. "I did look up 'community house' in the Merriam Webster dictionary and it said, 'a center consisting often of a single building for a community's social, cultural, recreational, and civic activities.'"

The board will look for feedback on the proposed change, with plans to hold a dedication to the space for the 100-year anniversary.

In other business, the town has been awarded $633,000 from MassWorks for roadwork to be done on Route 116. These funds are in addition to yearly state Chapter-90 funding, which is meant for municipal road repairs.

"That's $633,000 we can spend up there," said Town Administrator Jennifer Morse. "We can play with Chapter-90 funds and see what we can do."

Morse said the amount is more than is needed, which could allow the town to use extra funds for Stafford Hill Road and other places.

The Board approved a facility use request for the Cheshire Senior Center for a baby shower.

Board members discussed specifics of the use form for the space and use of the kitchen facilities. Board Member Raymond Kileen suggested the group look into making the form less vague.

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Hoosac Valley Hears Educational Study Process, Timeline

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
11:50AM / Tuesday, August 25, 2026

CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Hoosac Valley School Committee got an update Monday on the North Berkshire Education Sustainability Study, now two months into its yearlong process.

This was the first school committee presentation, with the second planned for the North Adams School Committee on Tuesday. The Steering Committee will meet publicly at Mount Greylock Regional School on Wednesday at 5 p.m.

The study is investigating the state of secondary education in North Berkshire, its challenges and potential restructuring. It covers Hoosac Valley, North Adams Public Schools, Mount Greylock and the Northern Berkshire School Union.

Jake Eberwein, project lead with consultant Berk12, explained that baseline data would gathered over the next several months including through community forums to be held in late fall.

"We're not here to audit or evaluate," said Eberwein. "Our goal is to collect, curate and share it. Of course, there's always a process where, as a researcher, you have to decide how to share it and organize it, and that can certainly have a bias in itself. We're going to do our best and work with the subcommittees."

The data will include New Ashford and Hancock because even though they are not participating in the study, they tuition their students to North Berkshire schools, but not Rowe because it sends its high school students to Mohawk Trail Regional School.

"The charge really is to evaluate sort of the long-term sustainability option for the four districts that are involved in the project," Eberwein said. "It's really mostly about how do we provide the best quality, highest quality education for students in Northern Berkshire County, in light of the fact that there are some pressures: shifting enrollments, demographic shifts, and ongoing fiscal pressures."

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