CBRSD School Committee OKs $36M BudgetBy Sabrina Damms, iBerkshires Staff
05:15AM / Tuesday, March 18, 2025 | |
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School Committee approved a gross final budget of $36,643,001 for fiscal 2026, an increase of 2.70 percent over this year. The biggest cause of the increase is from insurances. The district's active health insurance premiums increased by 16 percent; retirees had an increase of 20 percent, and a 3 percent increase in dental, said Gregory Boino, director of finance and operations. Another large increase was for special education transportation costs, which increased $135,000, "and it's just to meet the actual expenditures where we're living right now," Boino said. The district's >> Read More |
St. Mary's Team Takes 24th Annual Berkshire Robotics Challenge By Breanna Steele, iBerkshires Staff
05:21AM / Monday, March 17, 2025 | |
Trophies for this year's Robotic Challenge. DALTON, Mass. — The 24th annual Berkshire Robotics Challenge, hosted and sponsored by the Berkshire Innovation Center, was held Saturday, March 15, at Wahconah Regional High School. "This is such a great after school activity for them to get involved in. So they can learn all about science and technology and math, but also have that, you know, learn to collaborate with teammates and work with friends and problem solve as a team, said said Berkshire Innovation Center executive director, Ben Sosne. "So all those great skills that you learn team activities, plus the science and technology stuff that you learn
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Pittsfield School District Says No Personnel Layoffs PlannedBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:39PM / Friday, March 14, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The district says that no school employees will lose their jobs because of reductions in the fiscal year 2026 budget.
On Wednesday, the School Committee got a first look at the proposed $86,450,361 spending plan that has $1,238,000 in payroll reductions. District officials anticipate cuts will be made through job movement, attrition, retirements, etc.
"I want to be very clear that the reductions you see here, we don't anticipate anyone actually losing a job through budget reductions," Superintendent Joseph Curtis said.
"… We always think of pink slips or some kind of layoff slips that will make the headlines. We don't anticipate
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District Moving On From Allegations Against PHS AdministratorBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
03:29PM / Friday, March 14, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The district is "moving on" from unsubstantiated allegations against two Pittsfield High School administrators, saying there is no threat.
Dean of Students Molly West returned to work last week after being put on leave in December. The Department of Children and Families has cleared West and Vice Principal Alison Shepard of misconduct claims that surfaced after another PHS dean was arrested and charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine.
School Committee Chair William Cameron on Wednesday emphasized that when such an investigation finds no evidence of wrongdoing, fundamental fairness and
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Candidates for Central Berkshire Superintendent All LocalBy Tammy Daniels, iBerkshires Staff
05:32AM / Friday, March 14, 2025 | |
 DALTON, Mass. — Central Berkshire Regional School Committee won't have to go far to find a new superintendent. The four finalists for the post are all from Berkshire County. They are Michael Henault, current assistant superintendent for Central Berkshire; John Franzoni, superintendent of the Northern Berkshire School Union; and Matthew Bishop, interim deputy superintendent for the Pittsfield Public Schools. Timothy Callahan, assistant superintendent for the North Adams Public Schools, was also put forward as a finalist and, per the committee chair on Monday, had been expected to continue through the interview process. Callahan informed iBerkshires >> Read More |
Pittsfield Superintendent Details 'Nightmare' Threat Incident By Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
05:36AM / Thursday, March 13, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Wednesday's threat incident was Superintendent Joseph Curtis' "absolute worst nightmare."
That morning, a social media threat put Taconic and Pittsfield high schools into "hold-in-passing" procedures. It was lifted a couple of hours later when the Pittsfield Police Department confirmed that the post depicted an Orbeez gel blaster gun and there was no threat to the school community. "The incident that happened today is a superintendent's and I'm sure everyone else in the room and everyone's absolute worst nightmare," he told the School Committee that night.
"There is no minimizing it. There is no saying
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Pittsfield Police Say No School Threat Posed by Social Media Post| 10:59AM / Wednesday, March 12, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police are investigating a social media threat related to the Pittsfield Public Schools. "The Pittsfield Police Department has confirmed that the online social media post in question depicted an Orbeez gun, a type of toy gel blaster. As of right now, the Pittsfield Police Department has determined that there is no current threat to the school community," Superintendent Joseph Curtis stated in a communication to the school community. Both Taconic and Pittsfield high schools were put into "hold-in-passing" procedures on Wednesday morning that has since been lifted. The Police Department in stationing an extra >> Read More |
Additional Stearns Staffers on Leave Amid 'De-escalation' AllegationsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
02:53PM / Tuesday, March 11, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Additional Stearns Elementary School staff members have been placed on leave amid allegations of using a bathroom to "de-escalate" students.
On Monday, Principal Sara Luciani notified the school community "as our investigation continues and new information has been obtained, additional paraprofessionals assigned to Room 1 have been placed on administrative leave, effective Friday, March 7, 2025."
The Department of Children and Families and Pittsfield Public Schools are investigating, and the district is reviewing its protocols for de-escalation strategies.
Last week, Superintendent Joseph Curtis reported that on Feb. 26, Luciani received an
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Berkshire Officials Back Bills to Protect Minors From Sexual AbuseBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
12:15PM / Monday, March 10, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Local officials urge the passage of "long overdue" legislation to protect minors from sexual abuse by adults who are teachers, mentors, or other positions of trust.
"When I began my career as a prosecutor, I specialized in the prosecution of child sexual abuse cases. In the mid-1980s, this was a taboo topic. Something rarely discussed, much less prosecuted. During those early years, I worked to normalize the prosecution of child abuse cases and to protect our most vulnerable population, our children," District Attorney Timothy Shugrue said during a virtual press conference on Monday.
"In 1993, I founded the Berkshire County
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Stearns Staff Accused of Using Bathroom to 'De-Escalate' StudentsBy Brittany Polito, iBerkshires Staff
09:59AM / Friday, March 07, 2025 | |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Several Stearns Elementary School staff were put on leave at the end of February for allegations of using a bathroom to "de-escalate" students.
A report was filed with the state Department of Children and Families and separate investigations are being conducted by DCF and the Pittsfield Public Schools.
On Thursday, Superintendent Joseph Curtis sent a communication to PPS families reporting that on Feb. 26, Stearns Principal Sara Luciani received an allegation that staff members in Room 7 and Room 1 were using a classroom bathroom in Room 7 as a place for students to de-escalate.
"Principal Luciani investigated immediately and then informed
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