Pittsfield Middle Schools to Restructure in Fall 2026By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
04:34AM / Tuesday, March 04, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.—The School Committee is okay with pushing middle school restructuring back one year, recognizing that it is a complicated project needing due diligence. Superintendent Joseph Curtis will bring a proposed timeline to the committee on March 26. This will pave a path for a junior high model that groups all fifth and sixth graders in one school and all seventh and eighth graders in another— allowing for universal pre-kindergarten at the elementary level. "I do think waiting a year and planning a year for this and working with the staff who will be working in the building or those buildings is the sound way to go with this," Chair William >> Read More |
DCF Clears Two Pittsfield High AdministratorsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:02PM / Friday, February 28, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.—The Department of Children and Families has reportedly cleared two Pittsfield High School administrators of misconduct: Dean of Students Molly West and Vice Principal Alison Shepard.
On Friday, School Committee Chair William Cameron confirmed that DCF’s 51A investigation of allegations of abuse or neglect made against PHS Dean of Students Molly West was unsupported.
"(Superintendent Joseph Curtis) told me yesterday that his office has received formal notice from DCF that the agency's investigation of those allegations has been completed, and that the allegations were found to be unsupported," Cameron wrote VIA email.
Earlier in the
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Pittsfield Will Seek an Interim School Superintendent By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
06:10PM / Thursday, February 27, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Joseph Curtis will be replaced by an interim superintendent in June.
On Wednesday, the School Committee authorized the personnel/negotiations subcommittee to search for an interim superintendent that starts no later than July 1-- earlier if possible.
"I wish we were not having to do this," Chair William Cameron said.
A couple of weeks ago, Curtis announced that he would be stepping down at the end of June after 30 years with the Pittsfield Public Schools. He read an emotional message that explained his decision is "The right decision for me, for the district, and the community I care deeply about."
The outgoing superintendent said in
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Pittsfield Schools' Investigation Clears One AdministratorBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires.com
06:54PM / Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Allegations against one Pittsfield High School staff member have been found to be “unsustained” by an investigator hired by the school district. On Wednesday, School Committee Chair William Cameron reported that the first part of the investigation led by Mary-Lou Rup, a retired Superior Court judge, was completed and one of the school’s two deans, Molly West, was cleared by Rup. “What has been received pertains to the allegations made against Pittsfield High School Dean of Students Molly West,” Cameron reported. “The investigator’s detailed report finds the allegations made >> Read More |
Pittsfield Speller Advances to Regional BeeStaff Reports ,
10:51AM / Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Emily Escalon-Brizuela, winner of the Jonathan Levine Middle School Spelling Bee on Jan. 17, will be one of 17 spellers advancing to the Regional Spelling Bee. The Region 4 Bee will be held virtually on March 8, 2025, at 9 a.m. This competition is the next step toward the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which will take place May 27-29. >> Read More |
BCC Recognized by Achieving the Dream as a 2025 Leader College| 07:50AM / Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) has been designated a Leader College by Achieving the Dream (ATD), a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing community colleges as accessible hubs of learning, credentialing, and economic mobility in their communities. "Achieving the Dream has been coaching faculty and staff at the College for years on how to prioritize student success," BCC President Ellen Kennedy said. "To be named as a Leader College and to join the other incredible institutions across the country who are dedicated to improving the lives of our community college students through access and student support is truly humbling. We are >> Read More |
Reader Leaders at the Berkshire Athenaeum| 07:47AM / Monday, February 24, 2025 | |
 PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Athenaeum announced another session of the Reader Leaders program, a unique reading-aloud event aimed at fostering a love of reading for youth in kindergarten through third grade. The next program will take place on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, at 3:45 p.m. and offers a special opportunity for young readers to practice their reading skills in a judgment-free, encouraging space. Additional sessions will take place on Friday, March 21, 2025 and Friday, April 11, 2025. The Reader Leaders program pairs young readers with teen volunteers who will guide them through reading aloud, be it reading solo, being read to, or reading together. The >> Read More |
BCC Announces New Faculty, Staff, Promotions, Title Changes| 04:14PM / Sunday, February 23, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announced the addition of three faculty/staff members, four promotions and three title changes. Grace Jull joins BCC as Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences. She holds a master's of science degree in Anatomy Education and Education for Health Professionals from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, a master's degree in Adult Education from the University of Toronto, and a bachelor's degree in Humanities from Dalhousie University, Halifax. Jull grew up near the Canadian Rockies, and her formative time in that vast terrain informs her love of teaching the vast inner terrain of the body. She has
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BCC Offers Virtual Advanced Beginner Computer Training Course | 08:07AM / Tuesday, February 18, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC)'s Workforce Department is offering a virtual advanced beginner computer training course starting Monday, Feb. 24 and concluding Wednesday, April 2, 2025. Classes will be held every Monday and Wednesday from 5:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m. The course will be taught in English, with Spanish language support. Ten grant-funded scholarships are available for eligible students. To register, email workforce@berkshirecc.edu or call (413) 236-2115. Designed for those looking to expand upon basic computer skills, the course provides an in-depth exploration of core Microsoft Office applications, enabling >> Read More |
Teacher of the Month: Carole SomervilleBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:04PM / Saturday, February 15, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Morningside Community School second-grade teacher Carole Somerville has been selected as the February teacher of the month. The Teacher of the Month series, in collaboration with Berkshire Community College, will run for the next five months and will feature distinguished teachers nominated by community members. You can nominate a teacher here. Somerville has been in the education sector for 15 years, transitioning from running her own daycare to becoming a paraprofessional and now a teacher. "I was always passionate about it. I had worked in finance because I could and I was good at it. I was a great bookkeeper. I >> Read More |
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