Hoosac Valley Regional School District to Undergo Tiered Focused Monitoring Review

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CHESHIRE, Mass. — During the week of Jan. 6, 2025, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's (DESE) Office of Language Acquisition (OLA) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring
Review of the Hoosac Valley Regional School District. 
 
This review is part of DESE's ongoing efforts to monitor and ensure compliance with federal and state laws and regulations concerning English Learner Education (ELE) programs.
 
The Tiered Focused Monitoring Review is a comprehensive process that examines various aspects of a district's ELE program. The review will focus on areas such as:
 
  • Student assessments for English learners
  • Identification and placement of English learners
  • Parent and community involvement
  • Curriculum and instructional practices
  • Student support services
  • Faculty, staff, and administration licensure requirements
  • Program planning, evaluation, and recordkeeping
 
The review is conducted every six years for each district and charter school to assess their adherence to relevant laws and ensure continuous improvement in serving English learners.
 
In addition to the onsite review, parent outreach is a critical component of the process. The Hoosac Valley Regional School District will distribute a survey to parents of students whose records will be
examined. The survey seeks feedback on key aspects of their child's English learner education program. Survey results will be reviewed by OLA and included in the final monitoring report.
 
Parents or community members who wish to participate further can request a telephone interview with the Review Chairperson, Samantha Kodak, by contacting her at Samantha.k.kodak@mass.gov.
 
DESE will also accommodate individuals who need assistance, such as translation services, to ensure full participation.
 
Following the onsite visit, DESE will issue a report within approximately 60 business days. This report will outline areas where the district meets or exceeds regulatory requirements, as well as areas requiring improvement. 
 
The final report will be made publicly available at https://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/cpr/.
 
For more information or to participate in the review, contact Samantha Kodak at Samantha.k.kodak@mass.gov.
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Adams Police Takes League Title

By Ben McDonoughFor iBerkshires.com Sports
In a hard-fought three-game championship series, Adams Police saved its best performance for last.
 
Behind a dominant outing from Lador Lawson and an offense that capitalized on nearly every opportunity, Adams Police defeated Adams Community Bank 10-0 in five innings Saturday to capture the Adams-Cheshire League championship.
 
Lawson was in command from the opening pitch, retiring the first two batters he faced with a strikeout and a fly ball before working around a two-out double by Maddox Milesi. The right-hander stranded the runner with another strikeout, setting the tone for a championship performance in the circle.
 
The Police offense answered immediately in the bottom of the first.
 
Hudson Ziter led off with a single before Lawson drew a walk and stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Avry Decker followed with a two-run hit to open the scoring. Danny Collins added an RBI single later in the inning, and another run came home during an aggressive baserunning sequence as Adams Police built a 5-0 advantage before Adams Community Bank recorded the third out.
 
Lawson continued to cruise in the second, striking out all three Adams Community Bank batters he faced.
 
The Police added to their lead in the bottom half of the inning when Ziter collected his second hit of the day. Moments later, Lawson drove a two-run home run to left field, extending the advantage to 7-0. Decker later reached with another base hit, while Adams Community Bank pitcher Mason Kucka settled in to record consecutive strikeouts and prevent further damage.
 
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