PITTSFIELD, Mass. — While awaiting the findings of Pittsfield High School's staff investigation, district unions and administrators united to create a social media and cell phone directive.

Effective immediately, it bars staff members from connecting with students outside of their immediate family on social media and calling or messaging them from a personal phone. It will become a policy the Monday after February vacation and non-compliance will result in "progressive disciplinary action."

"It's become obvious during the travails that we're enduring here that this is not always observed and although I know that each of the presidents of the bargaining

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — After 30 years with the district, Superintendent Joseph Curtis has decided to step down in June.

"Serving as your superintendent has been the honor of a lifetime," he said.

"Pittsfield Public Schools and the City of Pittsfield will forever hold a special place in my heart. Thank you for allowing me to be part of this remarkable journey. I will carry this time in my life very close to my heart."

Curtis announced Wednesday he will step down from his position effective June 30. His comments came at the tail end of a three-hour School Committee meeting during the superintendent's report. 

He read an emotional message that explained his

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC), together with partners 1Berkshire and Mill Town Foundation, will honor the winners of its annual 40 Under Forty Awards on Thursday, March 27 at 5 pm in the Robert Boland Theater, located on the main campus at 1350 West Street, Pittsfield.  

Tickets are $75 per person (free for award winners and one guest per winner) and may be purchased online at www.berkshirecc.edu/40-tix. Proceeds benefit support Workforce programs at BCC, addressing immediate needs and helping to build a lasting endowment. 

According to a press release, 40 Under Forty celebrates talented people in the Berkshires, under the age of

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee and administrators' union have settled on a contract that runs retroactively from 2024 to 2027.

On Wednesday, after one last executive session, the Pittsfield Educational Administrators Association collective bargaining agreement was approved. The union, which represents deans, principals, vice and assistant principals, school psychologists, coordinators and adjustment counselors, has already ratified it.

"We're grateful for the work of these employees and we're glad that we reached an agreement," committee member Sara Hathaway said.

Chair William Cameron reported that the most salient items were the compensation

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Department is considering a nonprofit's assistance to safeguard children from sexual abuse.

"This is not just your problem," Executive Director of Enough Abuse Jetta Bernier told the School Committee and the City Council on Wednesday.

While awaiting the findings of an investigation on the Pittsfield High School staffing scandal, officials heard how Enough Abuse can help strengthen policies and provide education to protect students in the Pittsfield Public Schools.

"I think for those that have felt almost frozen in terms of 'What do we do? How do we act?' Parents, teachers, administrators, folks within the school, this

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Does the structure of the School Building Needs Commission fit its upcoming role for a school construction project? This will be explored as deadlines for the proposed Crosby/Conte build approach.

On Tuesday, Commissioner Brendan Sheran said he has been thinking about whether the present order will support the group moving forward into a project. It will be further discussed next month.

"A couple of things sparked that in my mind over the last year and a half, one of which is that at times, we've had difficulty getting a quorum," he said. "But also this is an order, not an ordinance. The School Building Needs Commission is not in the city code

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PITTSFIELD, Mass.— The Middle School Restructuring Committee recommends a phased approach for a model that creates a districtwide Grade 5-6 school and a Grade 7-8 school and provides universal prekindergarten by the 2026-27 school year.

This phased approach could mean keeping Grade 5 in the elementary schools next school year, Grade 6 at one school, and combining 7 and 8 at another.

After eight meetings and about 16 hours of prep work, the committee on Monday voted for this path with gradual implementation beginning in 2026. It was supported 17-4 and will go to the School Committee next week.

"You're having discussions about possibly dismantling structures that have been

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