Acceptance of Donation for Taconic’s Auto Technology Program – Toyota Motors North America, Inc. is looking to donate the use of a 2023 Toyota GR86 with an estimated value of $25,723 for 5 years for Taconic’s Auto Technology Program. School Committee policy requires the committee to accept any donation of $5,000 or more to the Pittsfield Public Schools. The School Committee voted to accept the donation.
Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Kristen Behnke gave the presentation. Here is the most important information:
Big takeaway: If Pittsfield was in group 11 we could possibly receive $1 million to $1.5 million more based on rough estimates. More information will come during our budget workshop on February 28th.
Superintendent Curtis gave an overview of the work the School Building Needs Commission and the school restructuring consultant DRA (who were the architects for the Taconic High School building project) have done. Here are some highlights of the presentation:
The proposed Joint City Council and School Committee Workshop would also include a tour of the Crosby and Conte sites.
When asked about PHS administration mentioned that it would cost approximately $120 million to renovate PHS. It would also be difficult to run two building projects at once.
Approval of Memorandums of Understanding with the United Educators of Pittsfield and the Pittsfield Pittsfield Federation of School Employees/AFT, Local 1315, Bus Drivers’ & Attendants’ Unit – These Memorandums were tableduntil our next regular meeting.
Next School Committee Meetings
At the moment our next meeting will be our budget workshop on Wednesday, February 28th at 5:30pm at Reid Middle School. Due to the nature of the workshop format this meeting will not be recorded (though the first portion of the meeting which is a group presentation might be, more information to come).
Our next regular meeting that is scheduled is Wednesday, March 13th at 6pm at City Hall in City Council Chambers.
The Pittsfield School Committee will have a meeting on Wednesday, February 14th at 6pm in City Hall Council Chambers (70 Allen St). The meeting will also be broadcasted on PCTV Channel 1302, PCTV’s Facebook page, and PCTV Select.
Any member of the public may wish to speak during our public comment period. Public comment is limited to 3 minutes per person and the public comment period is limited to 15 minutes unless the school committee votes to extend the public comment period. Anyone wishing to speak during the public comment period may be required to sign up before the meeting starts.
Agenda Highlights
Acceptance of Donation for Taconic’s Auto Technology Program – Toyota Motors North America, Inc. is looking to donate a 2023 2023 Toyota GR86 with an estimated value of $25,723 for Taconic’s Auto Technology Program. School Committee policy requires the committee to accept any donation of $5,000 or more to the Pittsfield Public Schools.
Discussion of Submittal of an SOI with the MSBA Regarding Crosby Elementary School and the Submittal’s Role in the Restructuring Planning – The district is looking at a potential new building project on the Crosby site as a part of its restructuring project. In order to get state funding for the project, the Superintendent must submit a Statement of Interest (SOI) to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) by Friday, April 12th. The School Committee and the City Council must vote to authorize the Superintendent to submit the SOI. More information will be discussed at the meeting. Executive Session – There will be an executive session to discuss negotiations with the United Educators of Pittsfield (teachers union), the Pittsfield Educational Administrator’s Association (educational administrators union), and the Pittsfield Federation of School Employees/AFT, Local 1315, Bus Drivers’ & Attendants’ Unit.
Approval of Memorandums of Understanding with the United Educators of Pittsfield and the Pittsfield Pittsfield Federation of School Employees/AFT, Local 1315, Bus Drivers’ & Attendants’ Unit – These Memorandums will be discussed in executive session and then the School Committee will vote on them in open session. The Memorandums of Understanding will be released after the executive session.
First Reading on New Curriculum Materials and Courses
School Committee policy require all changes to curriculum and adoption of new curriculums and courses to be approved by the School Committee, with the proposals being read (voted on) at two different meetings.
The following came up for a first reading and will be on the agenda again at our next regular meeting.
New Textbooks (All approved)
Environmental Science for the AP Course – For AP Environmental Science at PHS
Young Producers Group Complete Curriculum – For Music Production 1 and 2, Music Appreciation, Career Awareness for Young Producers
Pilot Programs (All approved)
UFLI (pronounced you-fly) Foundations at Morningside – New literacy curriculum developed by the University of Florida based on “science of reading” principles with the goal of improving literacy outcomes for students.
TeachTown’s Meta Play – Meta Play is a Pre-K curriculum “offers a systematic, play-based approach to fostering the development of imagination and play skills in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disabilities, developmental delays, and social and emotional disabilities.”
New Courses (All approved)
PHS
High School Playwriting & Directing
High School Musical Theatre Performance
Reid (these elective courses were developed to rearrange elective course offerings in response to teacher turnover)
STEM Lab
Personal Finance
Introduction to Digital Literacy
Approval of New Tutoring Program – Ignite Tutoring Program
Ignite! Reading is a “new approach to reading instruction that is built to teach non-readers to READ”, utilizing 15 minutes a day of 1:1 virtual tutoring. Tutoring is for qualifying first graders based on reading ability.
At the meeting it was reported that the program has been working and the kids are very happy about meeting with their tutor/”friend” each day!
The School Committee voted to approve the pilot program.
Approval of School Committee Representatives
Per School Committee policy at its meeting after its organizational meeting the School Committee shall appoint members to serve as representatives to various bodies and groups. The Chair made the following recommendations for appointments, which the School Committee approved:
Berkshire Legislative Delegation: Hon. Peter Marchetti
Berkshire Anthenaeum Board of Trustees: Diana Belair
School Building Needs Commission: William Cameron
Berkshire Compact for Higher Education: TBD (the Chair does not know if this organization exits anymore)
Berkshire Chamber of Commerce: Sara Hathaway
City Council: William Cameron and Sara Hathaway
School Councils: Daniel Elias
Berkshire Educational Resources K-12: William Cameron
Presentation on Paraprofessional Educational Opportunities
Due to a communication issue, this item was tabled until the next meeting.
Budget Updates
Governor Healey released her proposed state budget for Fiscal Year 2025 (which runs from July 1st, 2024 to June 30th, 2025). After the release of the Governor’s budget, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE’s) released it’s preliminary estimates of Chapter 70 school aid (which is where Pittsfield Public Schools gets most of its funding from).
Based on DESE’s estimates, Pittsfield is estimated to receive $61,496,778 in Chapter 70 aid this fiscal year. This is a $649,248 increase compared to last physical year.
For comparison here are the increases in Chapter 70 aid spanning back to FY18:
If you’re in a district with falling enrollment and not a high rate of low income students (thus meaning you’re not getting the driving push of the SOA increases in low income rates), a 1.35% inflation rate isn’t going to be enough to push a significant increase. It’s certainly made it harder for districts still in hold harmless to get back out, particularly on top of the $60 per pupil minimums last year.
Even the Gateways–and yes, I’m including Worcester in this–aren’t seeing the same increases we have in past years, when the inflation rate was being driven by the pandemic spending of previous quarters.
And no one’s budget is increasing by 1.35%.
More to come on the FY25 budget process at our next School Committee meeting in February.
Upcoming Subcommittee Meetings
January 29th @ 5:30pm Personnel and Negotiations Subcommittee Meeting at Herberg Middle School – Executive session to conduct collective bargaining sessions with the United Educators of Pittsfield (Teachers Union). (Agenda)
January 30th @ 5:30pm Personnel and Negotiations Subcommittee Meeting at Mercer – Executive session to conduct collective bargaining sessions with the Pittsfield Educational Administrators’ Association (PEAA) (Agenda)
Upcoming Dates
January 22-February 2, 2024 – Annual Family Survey Range
February 2, 2024 – Secondary Families Receive Notice of Quarter 2 report cards
February 2, 2024 5-7p.m. For the LOVE OF ART Exhibit Opens @ the Lichtenstein!
February 2 – February 9th – One Week to Celebrate our LOVE OF ART!! Join to view midway Senior Portfolios, Drawings & Paintings, Photography, and Ceramics works by Pittsfield High School artists!
Empty Bowls Project: A handmade bowl. A simple meal. A way to fight hunger. Help us fill the bowls in our community! Join us for our Empty Bowls Event. All the proceeds raised during this event go to the St Joseph’s/ Christian Center Food Pantry in Pittsfield. Dinner of soup and bread “to go” will be available with a suggested donation for the one-of-a-kind ceramic bowls that are taken home after.
February 14th, 2024 – Next regular School Committee meeting
The Pittsfield School Committee will have a meeting on Wednesday, January 24th at 6pm in City Hall Council Chambers (70 Allen St). The meeting will also be broadcasted on PCTV Channel 1302, PCTV’s Facebook page, and PCTV Select.
Any member of the public may wish to speak during our public comment period. Public comment is limited to 3 minutes per person and the public comment period is limited to 15 minutes unless the school committee votes to extend the public comment period. Anyone wishing to speak during the public comment period may be required to sign up before the meeting starts.
Agenda Highlights
Approval of School Committee Representatives – Per School Committee policy at its meeting after its organizational meeting the School Committee shall appoint members to serve as representatives to various bodies and groups. The Chair is making the following recommendations for appointments:
Berkshire Legislative Delegation: Hon. Peter Marchetti
Berkshire Athenaeum Board of Trustees: Diana Belair
School Building Needs Commission: William Cameron
Berkshire Compact for Higher Education: TBD
Berkshire Chamber of Commerce: Sara Hathaway
City Council: William Cameron and Sara Hathaway
School Councils: Daniel Elias
Berkshire Educational Resources K-12: William Cameron
Scholarships
Acceptance of a New Scholarship Tim Connolly Scholarship – A scholarship in honor of Timothy J. Connolly. It will be an annual $500 scholarship given to “a graduating senior from Pittsfield and/or Taconic High School who will be attending college to major in journalism, English, communication or other related field and/or work as a journalist.”
Acceptance of Criteria Amendment to the Marcia and Shane Cassavant Scholarship – An amendment to allow students who are pursuing a degree or certificate in a post secondary Career and Technical Education program, and increase the amount given to each high school to $250 per year.
First Reading on New Textbooks – The School Committee will conduct a first reading on the following new textbooks
Environmental Science for the AP Course – For AP Environmental Science at PHS
Young Producers Group Complete Curriculum – For Music Production 1 and 2, Music Appreciation, Career Awareness for Young Producers
Approval of New Tutoring Program – Ignite Tutoring Program
Ignite! Reading is a “new approach to reading instruction that is built to teach non-readers to READ”, utilizing 15 minutes a day of 1:1 virtual tutoring.
First Reading on Pilot Program – UFLI Foundations (Morningside)
First Reading on New Course Pilots
High School Playwriting & Directing (PHS)
High School Musical Theatre Performance (PHS)
Middle School STEM Lab (Reid)
Middle School Personal Finance (Reid)
Middle School Introduction to Digital Literacy (Reid)
First Reading on Adoption of Pilot Program – TeachTown’s Meta Play
Meta Play is a Pre-K curriculum “offers a systematic, play-based approach to fostering the development of imagination and play skills in young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disabilities, developmental delays, and social and emotional disabilities.
Annual Review of Career Vocational Technical Education Admissions Policy – Per Department of Elementary and Secondary Education regulations the school committee shall review its Career Vocational Technical Education Admissions policy once a year.
Presentation on Paraprofessional Educational Opportunitie
Executive Session – There will be an executive session to discuss negotiations with the United Educators of Pittsfield (teachers union), the Pittsfield Educational Administrator’s Association (educational administrators union), and non-union personnel.
Subcommittee Assignments
Per the City Charter the chair of the School Committee shall appoint members to subcommittees of the School Committee. The Chair has made the following subcommittee appointments:
AUDIT
Liaison – Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance
William Cameron, Chair Sara Hathaway
Approves payment of bills (2 times/week)
CURRICULUM
Liaison – Deputy Superintendent
Diana Belair, Chair Daniel Elias Sara Hathaway
Reviews new course proposals and adoptions, curriculum models, textbook adoptions, district assessment programs, pilot programs and costs associated with these proposals. The work of the subcommittee will also ensure a bias review occurs at the district level when any new curriculum or materials are adopted.
FINANCE & TRANSPORTATION
Liaison – Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance
William Cameron, Chair Daniel Elias Dominick Sacco
Reviews preliminary budgets, state and federal funding, review of House and Senate budgets, review of contractual obligations and impact on personnel. Additionally, this committee will address any transportation issues (including costs, routes, etc.) that come before the school committee.
PERSONNEL & NEGOTIATIONS
Liaison – Director of Human Resources, Diversity & Inclusion
Daniel Elias, Chair William Cameron Sara Hathaway
Conducts all types of contract negotiations, hears grievances and other personnel issues and litigation. The work of the subcommittee will also support the lens of diversity and equity with regards to recruitment and hiring practices of the district.
POLICY
Liaison – Deputy Superintendent
Sara Hathaway, Chair William Cameron William Garrity
Works with administration on writing of new policies or amendments to current policies, making sure policies comply with the law.
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING & SCHOOL SAFETY
Liaison – Deputy Superintendent
Dominick Sacco, Chair Diana Belair William Garrity
Works with administration in addressing SEL needs and identifying ways in which to fill these needs including programming and staffing. This group will also work with administration to ensure the Code of Conduct is equitable and meets the state requirements pertaining to student discipline including the use of restorative practices as outlined in the Code of Conduct. Additionally, this subcommittee works with administration in ensuring the safety of our schools including the physical safety of students and personnel.
SPECIAL EDUCATION
Liaison – Special Education Director
William Garrity, Chair Diana Belair Dominick Sacco
Reviews programs and mandates pertaining to special education. The committee will work with administration to ensure special education programming and staffing meets the needs of diverse learners as well as meets the guidelines as outlined by federal and state education agencies.
Upcoming Subcommittee Meetings
January 23rd @ 5:15pm Personnel and Negotiations Subcommittee at Mercer Administration Building – Executive session to discuss strategy in preparation for negotiations with non-union personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions with non-union personnel. (Agenda)
January 24th @ 5:15pm Personnel and Negotiations Subcommittee at City Hall – Executive session to discuss negotiations with non-union personnel. (Agenda)
Upcoming Dates
January 22nd – February 9th – PPS Annual Family Survey(link)
January 23rd @ 8:30am – School Resource Officer Meet and Greet at Herberg
January 23rd @ 6pm – PPS School Safety and School Resource Officer Presentation via Zoom(link to register here)
January 25th @ 5:30pm – PPS Facilities and School Structure Study Community Engagement Session at Conte Community School
January 26th – Elementary Trimester 2 Progress Reports
I attended the United Educators of Pittsfield’s Mayoral Q&A session on October 19th. I decided to attend to learn about the mayoral candidates’ positions on educational matters as if elected I will be serving with one of them on the Pittsfield School Committee.
During his opening statement mayoral candidate John Krol made the following remarks that I feel is worth sharing:
“There’s three different types of students in every single classroom, there are high performers, there are middle of the road, and then there are those who are on IEPs and those kids that also can be disruptions in our classrooms.”
As a former student who was on an IEP throughout most of my time in the Pittsfield Public Schools, I find this remark highly offensive not only to me but to our students on IEPs in our district.
I hope you are doing well. As I am taking a course at Berkshire Community College on Tuesday and Thursday evenings throughout June, I am unable to attend the public comment period at the June 13th City Council meeting. Therefore I am sending my comments to all councilors via email before the meeting.
I am still recommending that the City Council file the petition regarding term limits for public office, which was charter objected at the May 24th meeting.
After sitting through the deliberation on this problematic petition, I want to respond to two major arguments that were brought forth.
Good evening members of the Pittsfield School Committee,
I’m William Garrity, Taconic Class of 22 alumni, and former student representative to the school committee, and I’m here tonight regarding transitioning Taconic to a fully CTE school.
This past week a bill was filed in the Massachusetts House and Senate to give student representatives voting rights on their local school committees. The Senate bill was filed by Senator Adam Gomez (SD759) and the House bill was filed by Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier (HD2806) with help of the Massachusetts Association of Student Representatives (MASR), which I was a founding group member of. Lets take a look at the bill!
As I continue to write these blog posts, I am starting to realize that the presentations given out by the administration basically have a lot of the same information in it (why the district wants to have Taconic become a fully vocational school, the benefits of the CTE program, myths about the CTE program, rough timeline, etc.) but with some added information not found in previous presentations. Because of that, I’m just going to summarize all of the new information from here on out. You may view the linked presentation or video recording if you want to see what else was talked about.
The November 28th, 2022 CTE Community Information Session
On November 28th, Taconic Principal Matthew Bishop, Taconic Vice Principal for CTE Teaching and Learning Marcie Simonds, Assistant Superintendent for College and Career Readiness Tammy Gage, and Superintendent Joseph Curtis hosted a virtual CTE Community Information Session to discuss Taconic transitioning to a fully vocational school (this was a rescheduling of a meeting that was going to take place on November 10th but was canceled due to technical difficulties). The presentation covered the following additional points not discussed in previous blog posts:
On the agenda for the July 20th, 2022 School Committee meeting was a “Presentation and Discussion on Steps Needed to Make Taconic High School a Full Vocational School for the 2023-2024 School Year” (timestamp 1:30:00 – 2:42:56).
This presentation by Taconic Principal Matthew Bishop, Assistant Superintendent for College and Career Readiness Tammy Gage, and then Pittsfield High Principal Henry Duval covered the following points (note that this information was accurate as of July of 2022):
