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BHS Director of Infection Prevention and Control Michael Perreault presented an update to the Board of Health on Wednesday.

Enrollment Growing In Pittsfield Needle Exchange Program

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Already 31 people have enrolled in the local needle exchange program.
 
The state Department of Health allocated grant funds earlier this year to bring a syringe exchange program to the area through Berkshire Health Systems at 510 North St. 
 
The intent is to reduce harm to those using intervenous drugs by providing sterile needles. The program opened on Sept. 4 and enrollment has been growing ever since.
 
"When they come back for subsequent visits, it is considered a re-enrollment. We've had 29 instances of returning," said BHS Director of Infection Prevention and Control Michael Perreault.
 
Perreault said only one person enrolled in September. But in October, a dozen more joined, and 16 more joined in November. So far this month, two more have joined the program bringing the total number to 31. Of those 31, many of them are returning.
 
"The more we get out there, the more we can connect to our services," Perreault said. "We want to keep increasing. We really want to get out there."
 
Part of what is called Healthy Steps, the program starts with a risk assessment. The enrollee visits with a counselor and learns about how to reduce the risk of catching and spreading diseases including connecting them with help to break the addiction.
 
It is particularly been cited as a way to reach the population of intravenous drug users who aren't ready to seek out an addiction program — a notoriously difficult segment of the population to reach. The hope is to protect them while they are still using and eventually get them into a rehabilitation program.
 
Two individuals feel they are close to being ready to enter a rehabilitation program to treat the drug addiction, Perreault said of those using the syringe exchange.
 
"We carry on with those discussions. Depending on where the person is, what their situation is, we will be in contact with McGee [Recovery Center] or other social services," Perreault said.
 
Healthy Steps does testing for disease and Perreault said he is finding Hepatitis C showing up the most often. The counselors work with those found to have it to reach the medical assistance needed.
 
Slowing the spread of diseases goes beyond just those who use intervenous drugs. Perreault said the program provides new needles in exchange for used needles. He said recently an individual had brought in 14 needles after only being given 10.
 
"That is four extra needles that aren't on a street, that aren't disposed of inappropriately," he said, specifically citing needles being left in parks where children can step on them.
 
Further, Perreault said he chose ones that have the needles attached — rather than detachable. He said the detachable needles can be small and remain in a pocket when first responders are responding to somebody with one. That first responder is then more likely to be stabbed when reaching into pockets. 
 
But, by having it attached, there is a greater chance that the first responder will be made aware of it when patting the individual down or by seeing it.
 
"We are also keeping first responders safe," he said.
 
Perreault said the program is also looking to prevent overdose deaths. Healthy Steps will soon be distributing the overdose-reversing drug Narcan. That shipment first arrived on Friday.
 
The program is confidential for attendees and the hope is to both keep the community safer but also get those who are using drugs in rehabilitation programs. 
 
"People don't always know what people are involved with and it is my job to keep them safe," Perreault said.
 
Such programs have been highly controversial, including the discussion on whether or not one should be opening in Pittsfield. The city and the Board of Health both fully backed the program and on Wednesday voiced praise that it was tackling the issues it had wanted when voting in favor of it.
 
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Pittsfield Approves Needle Exchange Program

It took seven months to make the decision but on Wednesday the Board of Health approved a needle exchange program. The board approved the letter authorizing the state Department of Health to pursue a vendor for such a program. The state will now take over the process of funding, issuing a request for proposal, and ultimately opening a site. The issue had been before the board since August, neared a vote in December, and then was pushed until March.

 
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Health Officials Make Case for Needle Exchange in...

It wasn't long ago when a young man came to the Brien Center looking for help after he had overdosed on heroin. Dr. Jennifer Michaels, the center's medical director, got him into sober housing, meetings, and family support. He "did all the things he needed to do."

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Pittsfield Holding Public Forum On Needle Exchange...

The first public engagement session about a needle exchange program is scheduled for Tuesday. The city is considering authorizing a needle exchange program to operate in the city and the Board of Health was close to voting to give that authorization last month. But, the board decided to hold off and in conjunction with the mayor's office launch a series of public sessions to gain additional feedback and inform citizens about the program.

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Pittsfield Delays Needle Exchange Vote Until March,...

At the request of the mayor and City Council, the Board of Health has put the brakes on the opening of a needle exchange program. Just one month ago the board was ready and planning to vote in favor of giving the authorization to allow Tapestry Health to pursue opening one somewhere in the city in tandem with the state Department of Public Health.

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Needle Exchange Program Gets Final OK in North Adams

The nonprofit health agency was given approval on Monday night by the Redevelopment Authority to operate out of 6 West Main St., a building owned by the city and formerly used by the School Department. It received approval from the Board of Health in June.

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Pittsfield Health Officials Wait for Council Comments...

It is very unlikely the City Council will change the mind of the Board of Health when it comes to opening a needle exchange. But, the Board of Health does want to wait until the council has a chance to weigh in before making the decision.

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Authorization For Needle Exchange In Pittsfield Could...

The decision whether or not to authorize the state to fund a needle exchange program in the city should come next week. The Board of Health is the authority needed to authorize the program and is expected to take up the topic next Wednesday. Tapestry Health is looking to open one through funding from the state Department of Health to combat the spread of infectious diseases, similar to the one opening in North Adams in the coming months.

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Pittsfield Health Officials Considering Needle...

City officials are looking into whether a needle exchange program will help halt the spread of infectious diseases. In the face of a heroin epidemic, a needle exchange program is one way to help users avoid spreading diseases - particularly Hepatitis C. Syringe Access Program Director for Tapestry Liz Whynott says her organization currently runs two programs in Western Massachusetts - one in Holyoke and one in Northampton - and provides a way for users of injected drugs to have access to clean

 


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Crosby/Conte Statement of Interest Gets OK From Council

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

Architect Carl Franceschi and Superintendent Joseph Curtis address the City Council on Tuesday.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With the approval of all necessary bodies, the school district will submit a statement of interest for a combined build on the site of Crosby Elementary School.

The City Council on Tuesday unanimously gave Superintendent Joseph Curtis the green light for the SOI to the Massachusetts School Building Authority by April 12.

"The statement I would make is we should have learned by our mistakes in the past," Mayor Peter Marchetti said.

"Twenty years ago, we could have built a wastewater treatment plant a lot cheaper than we could a couple of years ago and we can wait 10 years and get in line to build a new school or we can start now and, hopefully, when we get into that process and be able to do it cheaper then we can do a decade from now."

The proposal rebuilds Conte Community School and Crosby on the West Street site with shared facilities, as both have outdated campuses, insufficient layouts, and need significant repair. A rough timeline shows a feasibility study in 2026 with design and construction ranging from 2027 to 2028.

Following the SOI, the next step would be a feasibility study to determine the specific needs and parameters of the project, costing about $1.5 million and partially covered by the state. There is a potential for 80 percent reimbursement through the MSBA, who will decide on the project by the end of the year.

Earlier this month, city officials took a tour of both schools — some were shocked at the conditions students are learning in.

Silvio O. Conte Community School, built in 1974, is a 69,500 square foot open-concept facility that was popular in the 1960s and 1970s but the quad classroom layout poses educational and security risks.  John C. Crosby Elementary School, built in 1962, is about 69,800 square feet and was built as a junior high school so several aspects had to be adapted for elementary use.

Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi said the walkthrough was "striking" at points, particularly at Conte, and had her thinking there was no way she would want her child educated there. She recognized that not everyone has the ability to choose where their child goes to school and "we need to do better."

"The two facilities that we are looking at I think are a great place to start," she said.

"As the Ward 6 councilor, this is where my residents and my students are going to school so selfishly yes, I want to see this project happen but looking at how we are educating Pittsfield students, this is going to give us a big bang for our buck and it's going to help improve the educational experience of a vast group of students in our city."

During the tour, Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey, saw where it could be difficult to pay attention in an open classroom with so much going on and imagined the struggle for students.

Councilor at Large Alisa Costa said, "we cannot afford not to do this" because the city needs schools that people want their children to attend.

"I know that every financial decision we make is tough but we have to figure this out. If the roof on your house were crumbling in, you'd have to figure it out and that's where we're at and we can't afford to wait any longer," she said.

"We can't afford for the sake of the children going to our schools, for the sake of our city that we want to see grow so we have to build a city where people want to go."

Councilor at Large Kathy Amuso, who served on the School Building Needs Commission for about 18 years, pointed out that the panel identified a need to address Conte in 2008.

Curtis addressed questions about the fate of Conte if the build were to happen, explaining that it could be kept as an active space for community use, house the Eagle Academy or the Adult Learning Center, or house the central offices.

School attendance zones are a point of discussion for the entire school district and for this project.

"At one time I think we had 36 school buildings and now we have essentially 12 and then it would go down again but in a thoughtful way," Curtis said.

Currently, eight attendance zones designate where a student will go to elementary school. Part of the vision is to collapse those zones into three with hopes of building a plan that incorporates partner schools in each attendance zone.

"I think that going from eight schools to three would be easier to maintain and I think it would make more sense but in order to get there we will have to build these buildings and we will have to spend money," Kavey said, hoping that the city would receive the 80 percent reimbursement it is vying for.

This plan for West Street, which is subject to change, has the potential to house grades pre-kindergarten to first grade in one school and Grades 2 to 4 in another with both having their own identities and administrations. 

The districtwide vision for middle school students is to divide all students into a grade five and six school and a grade seven and eight school to ensure equity.

"The vagueness of what that looks like is worrisome to some folks that I have talked to," Lampiasi said.

Curtis emphasized that these changes would have to be voted on by the School Committee and include public input.

"We've talked about it conceptually just to illustrate a possible grade span allocation," he said. "No decisions have been made at all by the School Committee, even the grade-span proposals."

School Committee Chair William Cameron said it is civic duty of the committee and council to move forward with the SOI.
 
He explained that when seven of the city's schools were renovated in the late 1990s, the community schools were only 25 years old and Crosby was 35 years old.  The commonwealth did not deem them to be sorely in need of renovation or replacement.
 
"Now 25 years later, Crosby is physically decrepit and an eyesore. It houses students ages three to 11 in a facility meant for use by teenagers,"
 
"Conte and Morningside opened in the mid-1970s. They were built as then state-of-the-art schools featuring large elongated rectangles of open instructional space. Over almost half a century, these physical arrangements have proven to be inadequate for teaching core academic skills effectively to students, many of whom need extra services and a distraction-free environment if they are to realize their full academic potential."
 
He said  the proposal addresses a serious problem in the "economically poorest, most ethnically, culturally, and linguistically diverse area" of the city.
 
Cameron added that these facilities have been deemed unsatisfactory and need to be replaced as part of the project to reimagine how the city can best meet the educational needs of its students.  He said it is the local government's job to move this project forward to ensure that children learn in an environment that is conducive to their thriving academically.
 
"The process of meeting this responsibility needs to begin here tonight," he said.
 
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