BArT Awarded State STEM Equipment and Professional Development Grant

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ADAMS, Mass. — Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter Public School (BArT) is the recipient of the Healey-Driscoll Administration's Massachusetts Life Science Center's (MLSC) STEM Equipment and Professional Development Grant Program. 
 
$60,515 has been awarded to BArT to expand life sciences education and enhance STEM career pathways for students. Plans underway include augmenting the AP science course offerings, upgrading lab equipment, and providing enhanced professional development for the science team.
 
"The life sciences are a cornerstone of our economy, and the industry's continued growth depends on cultivating the next generation of talent across every region of the Commonwealth," said Economic Development Secretary Eric Paley. "These grants strengthen the connection between STEM education and industry needs, ensuring Massachusetts remains a leader in life sciences workforce development for years to come."
 
The MLSC is awarding more than $3.3 million for 49 projects through the STEM Equipment and Professional Development Grant Program. This funding will serve nearly 56,000 students at 131 schools and provide professional development opportunities for more than 320 teachers. The program prepares students for life sciences careers by enabling schools to purchase lab equipment, materials, supplies, and technology, and provide teachers with professional development opportunities that support the implementation of advanced curricula and standards alignment.  

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Hoosac Valley Students Find Their Voice Through Advisory Board

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
ADAMS, Mass. — For the last three years, Hoosac Valley High School has encouraged students to take part in shaping their school community through its Student Adult Advisory Board. 
 
The board has become popular among students, with approximately 70 members currently enrolled and a waiting list of others eager to join — the largest it has ever been, said Jaclyn Ricci, history teacher. 
 
"It gives us such a voice in the school, and I just think it's something every school should have because it really just brings all of us together, our whole student body as one, and helps us be more comfortable with each other," senior Rylin Larabee said. 
 
Students highlighted how the initiative allows them to work alongside school administrators and other adults to implement policies and advance programming, from bringing back the peer mentorship program and planning enrichment activities based on the student body's needs to advancing multi-year plans for outdoor classrooms and planning school celebrations and pep rallies. 
 
"I feel like it brought me closer to a lot of the advisers that we work with, and the teachers in the building, and just being able to communicate with them and explain, like student to teacher, how both of us are feeling about different roles that we have in our school," senior Leyah Brown said. 
 
Senior Preston Hnatonko said the Student Adult Advisory Board (SAAB) operates similarly to government in that it gives students firsthand experience in developing policies. They can then carry that experience beyond graduation and advocate for change and influence public policy as adults.
 
As an environmentalist, Hnatonko said one of the biggest things the program has done is teach him how to write legislation for the causes he believes in. 
 
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