PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With a new school year looming, Superintendent Joseph Curtis has explained staffing changes in the central office.

The fiscal year 2025 budget said goodbye to the deputy superintendent and director of curriculum positions. Last month, the district's former special education director Jennifer Stokes was appointed assistant superintendent for school transformation and accountability and former Taconic High School principal Matthew Bishop was tapped as the interim deputy superintendent.

Eyebrows were raised, as the position was eliminated for this fiscal year.

"Unfortunately, the interview committee did not feel confident advancing any candidate for the role of Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Educational Engagement," Curtis explained in a communication to Pittsfield Public School families last Tuesday.

"Consequently, to ensure that Pittsfield Public Schools could adequately prepare for and transition into the new school year, I appointed Dr. Matthew Bishop as the Interim Deputy Superintendent. Dr. Bishop's extensive experience and deep connection with our school district made him an ideal choice for this interim position."

During the July meeting, Bishop revealed this may not be the end of his nearly 12-year tenure as a principal.

"I initially didn't apply when [the job posting] came out because I have some things left to do at Taconic, I feel like, and I feel like I want to see that transition through," he said.

He was excited when the opportunity presented itself and could see himself staying in an administrative role if it goes well, explaining "I am going to kind of wait and see how it goes."  

If not, Bishop intends to return and finish what he started at the high school. Taconic will be all vocational by 2027 and he would like to see the transition through and "not leave that half done."

Administrators will soon decide to repost the assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction, and educational, engagement or to keep the role of interim deputy superintendent for the time being and repost the other position in early 2025.

"I deliberately chose not to appoint an interim for the assistant superintendent of curriculum, instruction, and educational engagement. This decision was made to preserve the integrity of this new position and allow us to continue our search for the right candidate in the future. This approach allows us to find the most qualified individual for this crucial role in our district while simultaneously ensuring that we meet our immediate support needs," Curtis wrote.

"By doing so, we can continue to operate effectively and drive our district forward during the transition period. It provides a balanced strategy that prioritizes both the thorough search for the right candidate and the ongoing stability and progress of our school district."

He explained that interviewing for these positions at this point in the school year was "not ideal," as these roles are typically pursued by prospective candidates early in the year.

"Due to the budget process, the timing posed challenges in attracting a larger pool of applicants, as many potential candidates are already committed to their current roles," he wrote.

"Conducting interviews earlier in the year would have aligned better with the typical educational hiring cycle.

In June, the City Council passed a $216 million operating budget with a $200,000 reduction to the $82 million school budget. Councilors emphasized that the cut was aimed at the Mercer Administration Building or non-personnel line items and that they do not have line-item control over the reductions.

"It is important to note that as we entered the FY25 budget season, we planned for and allocated resources for two key positions (Assistant Superintendent of School Transformation and Accountability being 50 percent grant funded,)" Curtis wrote.

"We will move through the 2024-2025 school year with two key positions. Once we successfully fill the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Educational Engagement position, the Interim Deputy Superintendent role will be dissolved. This plan underscores our commitment to long-term stability and the strategic allocation of our leadership resources to best serve the needs of our district."

An interview committee has been formed for the director of special education post vacated by Stokes so that she can move into her new position.

She will lead initiatives for transforming schools that have been designated in need of targeted assistance from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education: Taconic High School, Reid Middle School, Herberg Middle School, Morningside Community School, Conte Community School, and Crosby Elementary School.

Curtis has formerly explained that he only felt comfortable with bringing forward the assistant superintendent of school transformation because half of the position is grant-funded, saving the taxpayer at least $70,000.

In the short term, Bishop and Stokes will take on the responsibilities of the vacant position, partially the fall assessment system based on June data. They will also help facilitate a curriculum adoption process that is teacher-led.

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