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 hearings related to the 5/6 and 7/8 grade spans will be held in April and May. By June, the School Committee will finalize grade spans for elementary, intermediate, and middle schools. By summertime, a firm or local committee will begin to study possible instructional models.

Curtis brought the timeline to the restructuring committee last week and members added suggestions, such as hiring a full-time project manager to support the effort. The panel is still intact and wishes to assist beyond its initial charge.

"They were suggestions that came from several or sometimes one person, but I felt compelled to pass along their feedback, as the members have been working on this project since September," Curtis added.

"…You'll see that it does begin in April with some discussions and decisions, some calendar adaptations that we are yet to bring forth, until the (United Educator of Pittsfield) ratifies their contract, outreach that we feel is important for the School Committee to start to engage in almost immediately and you will see that the the timeline, even though it is a year out, has to be followed with a great deal of loyalty and diligence because otherwise, you will not make it in one year."

He recommended that hearings be held "in rather quick fashion" to memorialize the grade spans, as "that really is a decision that has to occur rather quickly" so that transportation and physical plant decisions can be made.

In February, Curtis announced that he would step down from the position at the end of June. Chair William Cameron pointed out that the job posting for an interim superintendent says they will need to manage the Pittsfield Public Schools operations and oversee the reorganization of the middle school program for 2026-2027.

Planners strongly feel instructional model is the most important aspect of the project. These are intended to be finalized in December.

"I would be concerned about who would be doing this. I agree completely with the view that I believe you're saying that the restructuring committee holds and we've talked about here that the essence of this is not shifting kids around into different buildings, although that may help create a better environment in school, but the essence of this is making sure that we have the best instructional program we can find for our middle schools," Cameron said.

"And I don't know how many people involved in this group have the time to do that or the background without starting from scratch about how to research things in educational models."

He clarified that he doesn’t mean to disparage the group.

"I mean their presentation at the last meeting was very impressive, and the commitment of the people who are participating in this committee is obvious," Cameron said.

"But I'm not sure — I share your concern that if we have people who are starting from scratch with this, it's a very different situation and the fact that that a firm can be held to contract dates and so forth, whereas a committee of volunteers is a committee of volunteers and other things can come up for them."

I really applaud them, Curtis said, explaining that they expressed concerns, were honest, and are willing to put in the work. It could be a hybrid effort with restructuring committee members and an educational consultant.

"So I want to be very clear, even if it was a firm that assisted them, maybe that could be the case," he said.

School Committee member Diana Belair has a middle schooler and said she knows many parents who are concerned about the change.

Curtis reported having "very detailed" conversations with concerned families who would like to know all of the information before the grade configuration is decided on, "and unfortunately, there’s no way to do that."

"It's kind of the chicken or the egg. We have to make a decision about the structure before we can make decisions about all the other things," he said.
 

MS Restructuring Timeline by Brittany Polito

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