Pittsfield School Officials Making Budget Recommendations Wednesday By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:36AM / Wednesday, April 09, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee will make recommendations for the district's fiscal year 2026 budget on Wednesday.
This follows a workshop on April 2, where principals and district leaders presented their facility's breakdown with a 2.15 percent reduction to meet costs and a public hearing on Monday, which garnered no participation.
The $87 million budget proposal includes an $18 million city contribution and more than $68 million of anticipated Chapter 70 funding. It is a $3,765,084 increase from FY25.
Superintendent Joseph Curtis reported on several outreach efforts to maintain transparency during this budget season, including "much more communication"
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PHS Warmed by Updated Heating SystemBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:17AM / Monday, April 07, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new climate control system has brought Pittsfield High School into the 21st century.
On Tuesday, Building Maintenance Director Brian Filiault reported that the building's new gas powered steam boilers are a far cry from the former 1930s converted locomotive engines. The about $3 million replacement began in June 2024 and was completed by the end of the year.
"They have full power capacity, but we're probably using 30 percent of what they can actually produce right now," Filiault told the School Building Needs Commission.
The following day, he and some of his staff were to be trained on how to operate the equipment, but "they are
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Stop & Shop Boosts BCC Food Pantry by $7,500By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:34AM / Thursday, April 03, 2025 | |
Posing with the 'big check' Wednesday are BCC program coordinator Meghan Donnelly, in pink, and Stop & Shop's Shannon Karafian, holding the check. To Karafian's right are SGA's Ash Smith and David Castegnaro. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Stop & Shop boosted Berkshire Community College's food pantry by $7,500, providing students with nutritional stability while focusing on education.
Late last year, Stop & Shop donated $7,500 in gift cards to BCC for its Campus Cupboard, making it the 50th college partner of the grocery's School Food Pantry Program. This stocked the on-campus pantry with food and toiletry items available for any student or staff
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Central Berkshire Picks Insider Henault for Next SuperintendentBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
11:30PM / Wednesday, April 02, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School Committee didn't go far to find its next superintendent. The committee voted unanimously on Wednesday to offer the post to Michael Henault, who has been the district's assistant superintendent for three years. "He is an incredible candidate. It doesn't matter for what district, and I think he is ready, and certainly chomping at the bit to take on the next challenge," said Charlotte Crane, committee member. "I suspect that we wouldn't be able to hold on again for too much longer in the assistant superintendent position." The vote came at >> Read More |
St. Agnes' Academy Plans Information Session| 01:33PM / Monday, March 31, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — St. Agnes Academy will hold a meet-and-greet informational session at St. Charles' Parish Hall in Pittsfield on Sunday, April 6, immediately following the 9:30 a.m. Mass. The informal gathering is an opportunity for parents and guardians to learn more about the pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade Catholic school which is currently enrolling for the 2025-2026 school year. School teachers, the principal, and parents will be available to provide information and answer questions. Refreshments will be available. More information is available at 684-3143, rfleury@saintagnescc.com, or visit www.saintagnesacademy.com. >> Read More |
Pittsfield Board to Mull School Committee Pay IncreaseBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
01:26PM / Monday, March 31, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Should the School Committee be paid more? This conversation will pick up soon.
On Tuesday, the City Council unanimously voted to send a request from Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren and Ward 4 Councilor James Conant to the Personnel Review Board. In February, the Ordinance & Rules subcommittee recommended not to approve the request and referred it to the Charter Review Committee, which determined it should be addressed through an ordinance.
"The School Committee had never been paid until 2015. This is now 10 years later. We're having a charter review as a result of a petition of mine. Their pay needs to be adjusted before July of this year, or it
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BCC Seeks Support for New Athletic Lockers | 08:36AM / Monday, March 31, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass — The lockers in Berkshire Community College (BCC)'s Paterson Field House are in need of support and repair — and, recognizing the immediate need to replace them, BCC Athletics has created a $10,000 fund drive. The men's baseball and women's volleyball teams were recently accepted into NJCAA Division III Region 21, marking a milestone in bringing varsity sports back to the College. "Our immediate goal is to raise $10,000 to replace the failing lockers and create a functional, supportive environment for our athletes. Every dollar gets us closer, and every contribution — big or small — will make an >> Read More |
Pittsfield School Committee Accepts MS Restructuring TimelineBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:31AM / Monday, March 31, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee has accepted a middle school restructuring plan that runs through September 2026, triggering the first public hearing next month.
Planning begins in April and includes action items for curriculum and instructional models, scheduling, staffing, transportation, physical plant needs, and community engagement. By the 2026-2027 school year, it aims to have an intermediate school serving Grades 5-6 and a middle school for seventh and eighth graders.
"We didn't ask for approval because it could change at a moment's notice," Superintendent Joseph Curtis said about the timeline at Wednesday's School Committee meeting.
Public
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Leah Penniman to Speak at BCC Earthseed Series.| 08:00AM / Sunday, March 30, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) will host Leah Penniman as part of its Earthseed Speaker Series & Skillshare on Thursday, April 10, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The event, which is open to the public, will take place in the Koussevitzky Arts Center, Room K111. Registration is available at www.berkshirecc.edu/earthseed. Penniman, co-founder and co-executive director of Soul Fire Farm in Petersburg, NY, will speak about her work in food justice and sustainable agriculture. Soul Fire Farm, established in 2010, focuses on addressing racial disparities within the food system and promoting land access for Black and Brown communities. >> Read More |
BCC Celebrates This Year's 40 Under Forty RecipientsBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:36PM / Saturday, March 29, 2025 | |
The awards were presented by Barbara Hochberg, right, vice president of the Berkshire Community College Foundation. See more photos here. PITTSFIELD, Mass. — More than 300 community members attended the 40 Under Forty Awards celebration on Thursday, recognizing individuals who are dedicated to improving the quality of life for those in the Berkshires. Berkshire Community College received several hundred nominations this year and narrowed it down to 40 unsung heroes who have achieved many accomplishments, college President Ellen Kennedy said. Kennedy said it was wonderful to see previous winners nominating the next >> Read More |
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