Hoosac Valley Looking for New District Office Space
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Offices for the Hoosac Valley Regional School District, currently at the former Cheshire Elementary School, will have to find a new home once its lease expires.
After agreeing to a one-year renewal earlier this year, the town has decided not to renew the lease with the district, as it plans to move town offices into that space. Superintendent Aaron Dean and Business Administrator Erika Snyder met with the Board of Selectmen on Tuesday to discuss the decision.
"We just wanted to give you guys as much time as possible so that it would be, not easy, but a little easier," said Selectman Jason Levesque.
Dean said the district will look into alternative spaces for central office, as it currently does not have another place to go.
"It's not ideal. It's something that we're going to have to deal with, and this space has suited us well. I've actually liked being in Cheshire," he said. "There isn't a lot of space in Adams or Cheshire at this time."
The district had previously looked at the second floor of the Adams Visitor Center, currently occupied by the Adams Council on Aging, as an option. The council will eventually move programming to the former Memorial School but is waiting on additional bathroom facilities for the building.
"[Moving] will definitely have a long list of new costs for us that we'll have to absorb and, unfortunately, pass along to the towns as part of our budget," Snyder said. "Which we hate to do because that then does take away from education-based costs."
Board Chair Michelle Francesconi said once town offices move out of the building, the current Town Hall should have free space for other entities. She said the move will alleviate parking concerns at Town Hall, decrease difficulties with navigation and benefit the elderly who struggle with stairs.
"With all of our town offices moving in, the library will expand into the current Town Hall space and the Historic Commission will move in with the library," she said. "So they will expand into that entire building, which is actually owned by the library, to begin with."
The group also had a wider discussion about the school district, its newly approved improvement plan, the elementary school, and the social-emotional learning curriculum. Dean said he welcomes any and all feedback from parents and community members.
"I would encourage people to take advantage of opportunities to give us feedback on surveys, by calling us, by talking to principals, talking to teachers," he said. "The more open lines of communication, the more we're able to make things better for everyone."
In other business, the board approved town liquor licenses, common victualler licenses and auto dealer licenses. The board voted to approve the licenses with little discussion or issues.
- The board approved the appointment of Corey McGrath, Tim Garner, Robin Poirot to the town's Memorial Day Committee.
- The town will have a holiday gathering at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at Cheshire School. Light food and refreshments will be available.
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