Pittsfield Schools Seek Musical Instruments; Taconic Project Rolling
 Jason McCandless, on the far right, updated members of the School Committee on Wednesday about a number of ongoing projects in the schools. |
Superintendent Jason McCandless put out an appeal on Wednesday for musical instruments. The superintendent said there is a demand for the music programs but many of the students can't afford to rent or buy instruments.
He is asking anyone who has an instrument in good condition and no longer plays it, to consider donating it to the music departments.
"We have students who will give it a good home," McCandless said.
In other business, McCandless said school officials are continuing through the process for a new Taconic High School. A School Building Needs Commission subcommittee chose Gilbane Construction, which will partner with the local Tierney Construction, to manage the $120.8 million project.
"We are in excellent shape and going full steam ahead," McCandless said. "We are very excited about it."
The Massachusetts School Building Authority is paying up to $74.2 million of the project. MSBA officials, architects, school officials, and Gilbane have toured the site and are meeting regularly to prepare for a 2016 groundbreaking.
School Committee Chairwoman Kathleen Yon praised the school's response to recent tragic events, including the death of an 11-year-old student and the shooting of an 18-year-old man blocks from Morningside Community School.
"When tragedy occurs, we turn into a family," Yon said.
School officials staffed councilors at Morningside in the wake of 11-year-old Hannah Nazareth's death to help with impacted community members. Those councilors were available for both individual and private sessions with anyone who needed assistance coping with the event.
McCandless said the school department has a "moral responsibility" to help out when such things occur. The superintendent praised the Police Department in communicating with Morningside officials when a shooting occurred just a block from the school. He said that communication is critical to helping school administrators determine how to protect the students.
Also on Wednesday, Williams College student Olivia Carson reported to the School Committee that she had just completed a six-week project on bullying prevention with Pittsfield students and asked to share the final product with the members.
She said the students create a video talking with other students, teachers, and even School Committee members themselves about bullying in schools. The students also created an online game where the user chooses their own path - choosing the path of bullying doesn't end well.
Tags: musicians, Pittsfield School Committee,
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