BArT Awarded Grant Funding to Address Hate Crime Prevention

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ADAMS, Mass. — Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School (BArT) has been selected for the Healey-Driscoll Administration's program to prevent hate crimes and reduce incidences of bias in schools.
 
"We want to make sure that students know that in Massachusetts, they are all welcome at school and supported by our incredible educators and staff. The Hate Crimes Prevention Grants provide our local schools with the resources and tools to prevent hate and create safe environments for students and their families," said Governor Healey.
 
BART has received $40,000 to help strengthen their ongoing work to foster a safe, inclusive, and respectful school community. It will support specialized training for staff and continued funding for the DEIB office. It enables the school to further invest in evidence-based curriculum and diverse library resources, expand student programs, and bring in speakers who reflect a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. Together, these efforts will deepen belonging, promote understanding, and help prevent hate and bias in schools and across the region.
 
"Our students have the right to feel safe and secure at school. These grants will help protect our school environments from hate and ensure that students are in the best environment to learn," said Representative Ken Gordon, Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Education.

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Cheshire West Mountain Bridge Reconstruction Eyed for April

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
CHESHIRE, Mass. — The town is hoping to start the reconstruction of the West Mountain Road bridge in April. 
 
The steel culvert, which carries West Mountain Road over Kitchen Brook, has several structural and erosion-related issues, including cracking, rusting, minor wall displacement, sinkholes, partially failed and dulled galvanized coating, roadway settlement, and signs of leakage. 
 
According to the state Structures Inspection Field Report from January 2025, the structure is a single-barrel corrugated steel arch with an open bottom supporting fill with an asphalt wearing surface.
 
The town was previously awarded a small municipal bridge grant to cover the engineering costs, which was done by Gill Engineering.
 
The town was again awarded another bridge grant for the reconstruction project, anticipated to cost $770,518, with the bid being awarded to CD Davenport of Greenfield. 
 
According to the plans from Gill Engineering, the project will include repairing the bridge's foundation, reinforcing the sides of the crossing, rebuilding the road surface, and adding new guardrails and drainage. 
 
During excavation, the contractors will take "extreme care" not to damage the existing corrugated steel culvert. To prevent unbalanced loading, they will remove equal amounts of fill from both sides simultaneously. 
 
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