ADAMS, Mass. — Hoosac Valley Regional School District Superintendent Aaron Dean presented an update to the Selectmen on Wednesday regarding the secondary education collaborative's efforts to achieve long-term sustainability.

 

"We are looking at ways to make ourselves sustainable long term, and when you look at Northern Berkshire County, we are all dealing with declining enrollment, declining resources," Dean said. "We face the same challenges in terms of the student body and their needs."

 

Representatives from three North County school districts, plus the Northern Berkshire School Union, formed the collaborative to explore options for pooling resources and potential high school regionalization.

 

"These three other high schools, if you put them together, you can probably have one graduating class," Dean said. "So we are duplicating a lot of work."

 

With a $100,000 state grant that Dean referred to as "seed money," the task force will issue a request for proposals (RFP) to hire a consultant. The resulting study will guide the group's next steps with the goal of maximizing funding and resources while reducing pressure on communities.

 

"I am pleasantly surprised. The group has really come to the table ready to have this discussion about what we can do together because we are all seeing the same types of things," Dean said. "It is getting harder to come up with the resources and communities like areas are just big enough but just small enough where the state aid just doesn't get us there. So it puts a lot of weight on the towns."

 

Hoosac Valley already shares positions with North Adams Public Schools. Dean said that while it does not significantly move the needle, it is a start and proves that collaboration is viable.

 

Dean said the study will look hard at Northern Berkshire school programming and facilities. He suggested a study may recommend moving toward more shared services, regionalizing at the high school level, or something completely "out of the box."

 

Once the study is complete, it will be handed off to a steering committee, which will interpret the findings and see what can be into action. The not-yet-formed committee will need four representatives from each entity, including two Adams representatives and two Cheshire representatives. Dean said the group will solicit interest when the time comes. One of these positions will be filled by the School Committee chair, who is an Adams resident.

 

Dean said currently, the group is focused on getting the most out of the $100,000 grant, but anticipates the entire process costing upwards of $750,000.

 

This will lead into Phase 2, which will focus on bringing in community voices to guide the process and fine-tune the plan. Dean underscored that, ultimately, communities will have the chance to weigh in on this process.

 

Selectman John Duval was happy to hear education leaders were open to the process, calling it an inevitability that needs to be addressed.

 

"We feel we all need this. Everyone understands that we need to do something with the Northern Berkshire schools. The graduating classes are getting smaller and smaller, the population is getting smaller," Duval said. "We have known that for years. It is coming, and it is already happening."

 

Selectwoman Christine Hoyt mentioned that properly funding education was not just a budget issue, but a workforce issue, adding that Berkshire companies and businesses struggle to attract employees to the area.

 

"Yes, the cost of living is high in Massachusetts … but the other thing people look at before they move here is the education system," Hoyt said. "Those are decisions that people are making before they move to an area … I am really excited to see what the results are because I think that will help us long term."

 

Selectman Joseph Nowak called back to the closure of Cheshire school in 2016 and warned Dean that it created great tension between the two communities.

 

"It started a rift, and I think it has subsided in time. I just want that out there. Communities are proud of who they are, and when you start to finagle with them, you might get some blowback," Nowak said. "But it has to happen."

 

Dean said the group understands this and noted that any great change is some years away.

 

"This won't happen overnight. This is going to be a three- to five-year process. Essentially, a new regional district might be my retirement gift," Dean laughed. "I will certainly be ready at the end of that, but you are right, this is complex. We have to approach it with grace and respect for each community to make sure all of the voices are part of the process."

 

Selectwoman Ann Bartlett was optimistic, adding that it has worked in sports. Hoosac Valley, Drury, and Mount Greylock joined forces on the same football team.

 

"I think this shows people that communities can work together," she said. "And what is more important than their sports, and it is working."

 

Before the presentation, Dean introduced the new Hoosac Valley Elementary School Principal, Christine Wenz.

 

"She has been through her first few months learning a lot," Dean said. "I can say collectively I hear she is a breath of fresh air for the elementary school and doing great work."

 

Wenz is originally from West Stockbridge and attended North Adams State College, now Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.

 

"I am glad to be back living in the Berkshires," she said. "It has been a really great experience."

 

In other business, interim Town Administrator Holli Jayko updated the board on some pedestrian safety improvements that will happen on Park Street, which includes rectangular flashing light beacons that will be installed on the crosswalk near Town Hall.

 

"It has been in the works for a while, and finally it is wrapping up and ready to be implemented," she said.

 

The board accepted Emergency Management Director Amalio Jusino's resignation.

 

Before closing, the selectmen took a moment to thank volunteers in town.