PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Wheels are moving on the Pittsfield Public Schools plan to realign the middle schools in the fall. 

Last week, the School Committee received updates on the transition to an upper elementary and junior high school model in September, with Grades 5 and 6 attending Herberg Middle School and Grades 7 and 8 attending Reid Middle School. 

"This is an equity strategy that was started maybe a year ago, a year and a half ago, that we’ve been working towards to ensure that every intermediate and middle school student has access to equitable educational opportunities," Interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips said. 

"I know that there are a lot of moving parts that we are working toward, but I just always want to anchor us in that this decision was made with equity in mind for serving all of our students." 

Resident Rebecca Thompson pointed to the diverse demographics of Pittsfield schools and the importance of understanding them when shaping priorities and policies. In the 2024-2025 school year, students were 51.5 percent white, she reported, and 48.5 percent were a part of the global majority, meaning they are Black, indigenous, or a person of color. 

Additionally, 70 percent of Pittsfield students live in poverty. 

"I hope my giving you this data is not news to you, as it is critical to creating an educational system in which all students, every single one, have a decent chance to reach their potential. Each of you needs to bring an equity lens to your work as a School Committee member," she said. 

"… We all need to face the reality that our inequities stem from our history, and are based primarily on skin color. The whiter an individual's skin, the fewer obstacles stand in the way of them achieving their potential. An equity lens is how we own this reality, talk about it, and make changes in systems, policies, procedures, and our own behaviors in order to interrupt it." 

In December, a three-tiered bussing schedule was brought forward that picks up high school first, the middle levels second, and prekindergarten to fourth grade last. This remains the recommendation, and adds about 15 minutes to the day. 

The team was directed to consider five other scenarios, only one of which would be feasible and would transport Grade 5 with the third tier, changing the student body at Herberg. 

"The difference between that one and the requested Scenario 1 is if we kept fifth grade in elementary for the first year and just did the seven-eight building, and have just sixth graders in Herberg for the first year," project coordinator and educator Justin Bolio explained. 

"Either one of those scenarios would be feasible going into those for restructuring. The current proposed one is the one that we have proposed going forward." 

Negotiation meetings have been scheduled next week, working groups revisited core curricula and strategic scheduling in January, and the restructuring effort's advisory committee this month discussed transportation scenarios, athletics, and communications to Pittsfield families. 

Phillips reported that she supports moving forward with the same curriculum to reduce the amount of change for students and staff. She noted that there were core area teachers who are interested in a different math curriculum, and the current license expires this year, so that will have to be further discussed. 

There has been a focus on strategic scheduling that amplifies district priorities, encourages best practices in teaching and learning, heightens student engagement, encourages equity, and does it all in a cost-effective manner. 

"One of the points I've been sharing, one of the opportunities is that we will have more diversity within our classrooms, within our core classrooms. Everyone learning together, more economic diversity, linguistic diversity, racial and cultural diversity," the interim superintendent explained. 

"But we also have an intervention strategy, and we have an enrichment strategy. And I think this is an opportunity to strengthen both the interventions and the enrichment program and provide students with what they need so that they can soar." 

This means that students who need more support have their needs tailored for success, students above grade level are properly challenged in coursework, and the core curriculum is where everyone learns alongside each other.  

"As a learning organization, we can always do better. Even when we're doing well, we can do better," Phillips said. 

She also gave an update on the district's proposal to rebuild and consolidate the outdated John C. Crosby Elementary and Silvio O. Conte Community School on the Crosby property.

The Massachusetts School Building Authority voted to move the project to the feasibility study phase, and the School Building Needs Commission established a seven-member search committee for an owner's project manager. The district has submitted its request for services to the MSBA and, if approved, the job will be advertised in early February. 

Selection packets must be submitted to the MSBA for review by March 11 if the district wants to be heard at the April 6 OPM panel meeting with the funding authority.  

"It is first-come, first-served. Everyone who is in this process may get their applications in around the same time," Phillips added. 

"So we may not make it for the April 6, but if not, we would then be considered for the following, which I believe is the beginning of May." 

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