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Superintendent Jason McCandless.
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School Committee Chairwoman Katherine Yon.
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Kids 4 Harmony played three songs for the convocation.
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Mayor Daniel Bianchi.
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Deb Cebula addresses her co-workers.
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Ryan Sabourin said his 21 years working in the district 'flew by.'

Pittsfield Schools Staff Ready For First Day of Classes

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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Katie Wiader told her co-workers that she is just as excited about the first day of school than she was 27 years ago.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dawne DiNicola believes she has the best job anyone could ask for.
 
She has been a kindergarten teacher at Crosby Elementary School for 22 years.
 
"They are funny and they are happy. They are literal and innocent. And best of all, I get to see them grow," DiNicola told a Taconic High School gymnasium full of School Department employees.
 
DiNicola was one of 16 school employees to speak about their job at Monday's convocation at which all of the employees gathered to kick off a new school year, which opens on Tuesday. 
 
"I'm just as excited today as I was 27 years ago," said Katie Wiater, the Herberg Middle School nurse, about the opening day of yet another year. 
 
Some 6,000 students will attend their first day of classes for the school year and the staff gathered in somewhat of a team rally to perform their roles to educate those students. 
 
"Every bit of work that gets done for children in Pittsfield Public Schools is here," Superintendent Jason McCandless said. "It's really nice to gather under one roof."
 
Monday was the first time a convocation was held with everybody together rather than in smaller, separate gatherings. McCandless used some of his speaking time to remind educators about the value of education. Through quotes from a Martin Luther King Jr. essay on the subject, McCandless said what the schools do isn't just about teaching subjects but also about instilling intelligence and character in students. 
 
And that takes every staff member. Custodian Keith Williams knows that. He said he gets up every day to work during in the summer in "100 degree heat" with chemicals that are labeled dangerous. 
 
"The results are tangible. The kids say thank you. The teachers say thank you," Williams said.
 
Deb Cebula is a school secretary and says every day she goes to work with a sense of purpose helping the system tick. Pam Burton, cook manager at Egremont, knows that well-fed students learn better and she's glad to serve her role providing those meals. Mike Lausier takes pride in ensuring all of the technology the students and teachers need are working as needed. 
 
Morningside paraprofessional Stephanie Johnson is in her 15th year and has seen her seven children go through the school system. She too continues to see the positive impacts the staff makes on the lives of children.
 
"We are all so important to all of our students," Johnson said.
 
It isn't always easy though as multiple teachers attested to. 
 
"We have struggles. We have successes in this profession," said Brendan Sheran, president of United Educators of Pittsfield and a high school teacher, adding that there is increasing state control over education and accountability standards to the point where other school districts have been taken over.
 
While there are difficult times, Sheran said "it's a good feeling to be remember for your work" when students go on to have successful lives.
 
Union President and teacher Brendan Sheran says in an age of blaming and shaming districts over standardized testing scores, the teachers are trying to create a better community.
The union president said teachers build the community up to leave it in a better place than where they found it. He said the union is nearing another three-year contract to keep the educators in the classroom doing just that and he said the city's leaders are recognizing the challenges in the working conditions.
 
Mayor Daniel Bianchi said the union negotiations have resulted in a "responsible, acceptable" agreement. He said the school budget will meet student needs and focus on 21st century learning. The new Taconic High School project will also be a "small piece" of what the future of Pittsfield schools will be like.
 
"Your jobs are not easy, that goes without saying, and your jobs are critically important," the mayor said. "Our kids are well taken care of because you go above the call of duty."
 
Pittsfield High School Dean of Students Christina Huff says the most important part of being an educator is building relationships with the students. She remembered her first day two years ago when she was hired as dean at Reid and the "staff took me in like family." 
 
The staff at all 12 schools provide that type of support for one another, staff members said, and Taconic Principal John Vosburgh said Pittsfield is the school district where teachers make the most difference in children's lives. 
 
"Pittsfield is very easily the best district to work for," said Allendale teacher Jessica Bazinet. "We have the toughest job but also the best job in the entire world."
 
And on Tuesday, those employees will head to work with a new lineup of children in search of education. 

Tags: convocation,   pittsfield schools,   

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Central Berkshire School Officials OK $35M Budget

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Central Berkshire Regional School Committee approved a $35 million budget for fiscal 2025 during its meeting on Thursday.
 
Much of the proposed spending plan is similar to what was predicted in the initial and tentative budget presentations, however, the district did work with the Finance subcommittee to further offset the assessments to the towns, Superintendent Leslie Blake-Davis said. 
 
"What you're going see in this budget is a lower average assessment to the towns than what you saw in the other in the tentative budget that was approved," she said. 
 
The fiscal 2025 budget is $35,428,892, a 5.56 percent or $1,867,649, over this year's $33,561,243.
 
"This is using our operating funds, revolving revenue or grant revenue. So what made up the budget for the tentative budget is pretty much the same," Director of Finance and Operations Gregory Boino said.
 
"We're just moving around funds … so, we're using more of the FY25 rural aid funds instead of operating funds next year."
 
Increases the district has in the FY25 operating budget are from active employee health insurance, retiree health insurance, special education out-of-district tuition, temporary bond principal and interest payment, pupil transportation, Berkshire County Retirement contributions, and the federal payroll tax. 
 
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