Adams-Cheshire Makes High School Pitch to Lanesborough

Town Adminstrator Tony Mazzucco looks at the numbers on Thursday at Hoosac Valley High School during a presentation to Lanesborough.

CHESHIRE, Mass. — Adams and Cheshire touted the school district's benefits to an audience of nearly 80 on Thursday night.

The presentation by Adams and Adams-Cheshire Regional staff and officials was an attempt to sway Lanesborough residents in considering to send high school students their way.

Mount Greylock Regional held a similar demonstration on Wednesday to remind Lanesborough of the advantages of being educated at the Williamstown school.

But whereas Mount Greylock focused on academics, Adams went straight for the pocketbook.

The town could save around $1.6 million and still get a quality education, Town Adminstrator Tony Mazzucco told them.

He calculated it would cost Lanesborough about $8,700 per student in tuition to attend the newly renovated Hoosac Valley High School. After subtracting Chapter 70 education funds, it would cost Lanesborough about $1.1 million to educate its high school students at the Cheshire school. It currently pays Mount Greylock about $2.7 million, according to Mazzucco.

Lanesborough can achieve this low rate because Hoosac Valley's costs are fixed, he said, and has the capacity for the 180 students that go to Mount Greylock.

"What Lanesborough could do with those savings is really up for them to decide," Mazzucco said. "You could reduce taxes ... you could add money to your schools, roads, public safety — that would be yours to decide."

Joining with Adams-Cheshire Regional School District would allow Lanesborough to keep tax increases flat or minimal for several years. He said this is not likely possible if the town stays with Williamstown and builds a new high school.

"We are presenting a tuition option that would be good for us but great for you and that is what we are going to talk about," Mazzucco said. "Public education is the most important thing we do ... there is no strong local economy without a strong school system, but public education is also one of the least sustainable thing that we do in any community."

He added that there are efforts to regionalize throughout the state and Adams-Cheshire would be interested in collaborating in other ways.

Thursday's session was prompted by Adams-Cheshire's own budgetary issues this past year and declining population overall. Lanesborough and Williamstown, which are regionalized at the middle and high school level and collaborative at the elementary, have had a testy few years largely over costs. The towns have also been exploring possible K-12 regionalization and are currently in the process of planning a reconstruction of Mount Greylock Regional School.

Mazzucco took the opportunity to invite Lanesborough officials and residents to see what Hoosac Valley had to offer, prompting Wednesday's presentation by Mount Greylock at Lanesborough School. 

After a brief video presentation, various speakers took the stage to explain aspects of Hoosac Valley.

Principal Jeremiah Ames said Lanesborough students would fit in at Hoosac Valley, which educates students from a range of backgrounds.

"I am very, very proud of this school, the faculty, our students, the families, and I am proud of this community," Ames said. "I think what I am most proud of is our ability to work with so many different students ... from different backgrounds, with different abilities, and different aspirations and somehow we work with this group of students, and we make them all feel like they belong here."

Ames said 86 percent of Hoosac Valley 10th-graders scored proficient or advanced on standardized tests, but added that test scores are not always the best indicator of what a student is capable of.

He felt the level of a school is also a poor indicator of the opportunities it holds for students. (Hoosac is a level 3 and Mount Greylock a level 1.) He asked members of the crowd to try to remember what level school some of their acquaintances in the room attended and if it affected them.   

He said he is proud that the school produces adults who join the work force, the military, and go to college – many to competitive colleges such as Williams College.

If the towns combine, it would allow the school to look into expanding language programming to include Latin and more online options. Ames added there would be more levels in core classes and certificate programs in subjects such as business, criminal justice and alternative energy.

Hoosac Valley basketball coach Bill Robinson said Hoosac allows students to be different and is an incredibly passionate school.  

"We have what I call the most passionate fans in the county, we have the most passionate coaches in the county, and with that passion we promote our kids and we instill in those kids who play with that passion," Robinson said. "That passion helps students succeed not only in the fields and in the gyms, but in life."

He added that he has been to Lanesborough sporting events and recognizes the same passion in their students.

"We are passionate about who we are," he said. "We are Hoosac proud, and I know that you are very passionate about your town and your athletics, but if we ever join together, God bless the county."

Hoosac Valley teacher Stephanie Somerville lauded the school's faculty, who offer more to students than an education.

She said the faculty also come from many different backgrounds and have diverse experiences they impart to students.

"A school is a community and this community comes together in times of adversity," she said. "We also dance at the prom, we go to musicals, we cheer at football and basketball games, we cry at graduation, and we all want our students to grow, thrive, and develop into happy productive citizens."

Hoosac Valley teacher Kayleigh Colombero said Hoosac has an array of class subjects at different levels that allow students to customize their education.

"Students can select a course that best meets their academic needs," she said. "A struggling learner who may want a slower pace may want an intensive class in one subject while they may be ready for a challenge in another course."

Band director Jacob Keplinger said the school also offers plenty of performing and visual arts courses.

He said the band is split into three levels for different age groups and has more than 100 members. He said 15 percent of Hoosac Valley students are involved in the band.

The school's award-winning marching band also takes a trip to Disney World every few years.

There is also a jazz ensemble, a chorus, and dance and choreography class held in the school's dance studio, and ceramics and photography courses among other visual art programs.

Teacher Tom Corrigan said the new school is embedded with technology such as the solar array on campus and the water collection system on the roof of the school.

He added that the school has 240 computers, hundreds of iPads, smart boards, and state-of-the-art science labs.

After the presentation attendees were invited to have refreshments and tour the school. 

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