PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Community members and officials overwhelmingly favored Latifah Phillips for interim superintendent, citing her vision, vibe, and experience as tools that can make positive change.

"The mayor wanted to express that all three candidates shared some great answers during the interview process. However, one candidate stood out with her vision, and that is [Phillips]," Director of Administrative Services and Public Information Officer Catherine Van Bramer read on behalf of Mayor Peter Marchetti, who was unable to attend Wednesday's meeting.

"[Phillips] provided well-rounded responses and highlighted an understanding of what our district and

>> Read More

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee is set to appoint an interim superintendent at Wednesday's regular meeting.

They have a choice between three candidates: Roland Joyal Jr., Latifah Phillips, and Robert Putnam.  Outgoing Superintendent Joseph Curtis will step down from his position on July 1 after 30 years with the district.

Mary Jane Rickson, superintendent of the Granby Public Schools, withdrew from consideration shortly after her name was announced. 

During 70-minute interviews on Wednesday and Thursday at Reid Middle School, the three finalists were asked to detail how they would approach the

>> Read More

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee last week formally approved a three-year contract with the United Educators of Pittsfield after more than a year of negotiations.

Under the contract, teachers will make between about $65,000 at Step 1 with a bachelor's degree and about $128,500 at Step 18 with a doctorate in fiscal year 2027. It also reduces the number of half days scheduled for professional development.

The UEP represents classroom teachers, guidance counselors, department heads, and other specialists.

"UEP started looking at what we wanted to present for the contract back in October of 2023," President Jeanne Lemmond said after the vote was made at Reid

>> Read More

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The Mill Town Foundation, in partnership with Pittsfield Public Schools and with support from the Feigenbaum Foundation, has announced the honorees of the 2025 Core Impact Awards.

This initiative recognizes educators within the Pittsfield Public School District for their contributions to student learning, classroom innovation, and community involvement.

The Core Impact Awards annually select one full-time teacher or school staff member from each of Pittsfield's 14 public schools.

The nomination process involved an open community call for submissions from students, families, colleagues, and residents. A volunteer, independent Selection Committee, comprising

>> Read More

>> Read More

>> Read More

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Four of the five executive summaries on alleged staff misconduct at Pittsfield High School have been released, clearing so far two administrators and a former teacher.

Three administrators and two teachers, past and present, were investigated by Bulkley Richardson and Gelinas LLP at the request of the School Committee for a range of allegations that surfaced or re-surfaced at the end of 2024 after Dean of Students Lavante Wiggins was arrested and charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine in Western Massachusetts.

The investigation into Wiggins found the accusations of improprieties with students to be

>> Read More

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Four of the five executive summaries on alleged staff misconduct at Pittsfield High School have been released, including for Pittsfield High's former dean of students, Lavante Wiggins. 

Wiggins is identified as "administrator 1" in the report. 

Three administrators and two teachers, past and present, were investigated by Bulkley Richardson and Gelinas LLP for a range of allegations that surfaced or re-surfaced at the end of 2024 after Wiggins was arrested and charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine in Western Massachusetts.

BRG, commissioned by the School Committee,

>> Read More

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The district's middle and elementary school restructuring aims to give every student equal opportunity regardless of their address.

On Monday, the Middle School Restructuring Committee held a public hearing for the proposal to create an upper elementary school for grades 5-6 and a junior high school for grades 7-8 by the 2026-2027 academic year. The model also groups prekindergarten and first grade in one school and grades 2-4 in another.

"We see the opportunities. We know there's going to be challenges, but we see those opportunities as outweighing those," Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Educational Engagement Matthew

>> Read More

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Four external candidates for Pittsfield's interim superintendent will be interviewed this week.

They are Roland Joyal Jr., Latifah Phillips, Robert Putnam, and Mary Jane Rickson. Outgoing Superintendent Joseph Curtis will step down on July 1 after 30 years with the district.

On Tuesday, School Committee Chair William Cameron reported via email that 11 applications were submitted to the Massachusetts Association of School Committees for the one-year interim superintendent position.

"The School Committee's Personnel & Negotiations Subcommittee has reviewed all the materials submitted to MASC by applicants," he wrote. "There were

>> Read More

• Other Local Sites

• Photos

• Most Read

• Most Comments

• All News

• Blogroll