CHESHIRE, Mass. — The Hoosac Valley Regional School Committee was faced with an unusual decision on Monday — selecting a new member from four candidates.

 

After rounds of questions, they voted 4-2 to seat Jennifer Solak as the new Adams representative. She will serve until May to complete the term of Andy Przystanski, who resigned last month.

 

"Having been on the staff side of the school system, and now as a parent, I feel like that gives me a well-rounded view of how to work towards a system that works for everybody, not just what families and kids need, but also so the staff are able to get as successful as possible," said Solak. "Raising children with disabilities has made me really aware of the children that are often underserved, not just those with disabilities, but those that fall into other minorities, and it's made me really want to be involved to ensure all children and families are considered in decision making."

 

She thought her biggest strength would be as a bridge between community members in the district, helping families how to address concerns and promoting the good things that are happening.

 

The process was unusual in that the committee has struggled to fill vacancies on the two-town committee. Tracey Tierney came forward in August to fill an open Cheshire seat that failed to attract any candidates in the annual election and Robert Tetlow was chosen last year also to fill a Cheshire seat that had been open for months.

 

The candidates were Solak, Kyle Malloy, Julia Marko and Edmund R. St. John IV. Chair Erin Milne said it was "such a wonderful problem to have" four good candidates. 

 

She had sent the committee eight questions as a time saver, noting they could not discuss them ahead of time because of the Open Meeting Law but that the members could ask their own questions afterward. 

 

Tetlow asked if this was setting a precedent of the chair determining the questions, but Milne said she didn't think so. "This is the first time that we've had this problem," she said. 

 

The candidates were asked about their reasons for wanting to join the committee, how they viewed the committee's role, the district's challenges, their own strengths and their relationship with the district.

 

Malloy grew up in Savoy and coaches youth sports; he's director of information technology at Berkshire Family & Individual Resources and believed his knowledge and background would be helpful to the committee and the regionalization study the district is participating in. 

 

Marko moved to Adams about 15 years ago and has three children. She's worked in administration and finances for Berkshire Arts & Technology Public Charter School and the Pittsfield Schools and is chief financial officer for the Berkshire Museum. 

 

St. John is a local attorney who previously represented Cheshire on the School Committee, including during the renovations at Hoosac Valley High, and was Cheshire town administrator. He more recently moved back to Adams.

 

Solak is a district parent and chair of the district's Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) and is a licensed teacher, most recently in the North Adams Public Schools. 

 

Committee member John F. Duval said he would throw his support to Solak, specifically pointing to her work with SEPAC. 

 

"I see a lot of parents who found comfort in SEPAC and feel like they have their voices heard there, and Jen is steering them in the right direction," he said. "She's been a great advocate for all those students and their families, and I know they'll continue to do so on the School Committee."

 

He also liked her comments about being a bridge to the community. 

 

Milne also expressed support for Solak and pointed out that she had run for the committee in 2024, losing to Frederick Lora by 11 votes. 

 

"People had the opportunity to vote for Jen Solak, and over 800 of them did," she said. 

 

Lora, however, motioned for Malloy, saying his background and expertise in IT would be a benefit in terms of security and functionality of the district's systems. 

 

"I know having a director of IT as part of this committee could provide a lot of positive outcomes," he said, but the motion did not get a second. 

 

Tetlow said he would support St. John because of the former committee member's experience; Adam Emerson said he would support the committee's decision. 

 

Duval motioned to elect Solak with Tierney seconding; Lora and Tetlow voted against. 

 

In other business, the committee heard from participants in the POG (Portrait of a Graduate) Mentor Program.

 

The program pairs incoming eighth-graders with senior volunteers to help them transition to high school. They are together during the first week of school, then the group gets together for social and team building activities several times during the school year, including participating in the Mount Greylock Ramble.

 

"That first week is pretty intense as everybody's trying to get going in all their classes, but also making the most fun and inviting place that we can for the new eighth-graders," said coordinator Lindsay McGinnis.

 

The seniors said the program helped them be better people; the eighth-graders that they liked having someone to look up to.

 

"They really understand you and give you the support you need," said eighth-grader Jared, adding the best advice he's gotten so far was "try your best don't give up."

 

• The committee approved McGinnis' request for an overnight field trip on Mount Greylock. McGinnis, who teaches environmental studies, conservation stewardship and leadership, said "the best way to apply skills is to get out and do it." These trips have been part of the curriculum. She anticipated doing the overnight in two weeks but if the weather turned, she would postpone to spring.

 

• Milne updated the committee on the working group's recommendations for the secondary education regionalization study being undertaken by Hoosac Valley, the Northern Berkshire School Union, North Adams Public Schools and Mount Greylock Regional School District.

 

Each member district on the Northern Berkshire Educational Collaborative Steering Committee will have four representatives, with at least one school committee member and one municipal member. Milne suggested that Hoosac have one committee member, representatives from both town governments and then solicit a community member "to balance things out."

 

The group also agreed on a request for proposals for a consultant; the new education task force is expected to meet in January when the RFP will be ready.