Letter: Thrill for Taconic to Play State Championship at Wahconah

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To the Editor:

As a high school coach, I cannot begin to describe the emotion and excitement that my players and coaches experienced on Monday during the MIAA D-III state championship at Wahconah Park. The thrill of being able to play the final game in our hometown, on the city-owned historic park, was amazing. To look up at the stands as they began to fill, and to see the faces of people of all ages painted along the fence and deep into the field, resonated with me throughout the day.

It is no small task to get to the state game, but it was an even greater task to perform the way that we did in front of our family, friends, teachers, neighbors, and residents. Truth be told, it was your cheers and clapping, chanting, and demonstration of love and support that rallied our players in the dugout and on the field. Given the many obstacles and challenges that everyone has faced for the past year and a half, it was a great day of baseball and a great day for Pittsfield.


There are many thoughts racing through my mind the day after a state championship, but for now, I will say "thank you." Thank you to the school department for protecting our season, the city for allowing us to play on “their” field, the parents for supporting your sons each and every day, the players for their endless dedication to the sport, the coaches for their tireless work, and finally, the fans, for your love of baseball.

"In baseball as in life, all the important things happen at HOME." In closing, and on behalf of the Taconic High School baseball team, my players, and my full coaching staff, thank you! Go Braves!

Sincerely,

Kevin Stannard
Taconic High School
varsity baseball coach 

Pittsfield, Mass.

 

 

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Trifecta of Pittsfield School Projects Moving Forward

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Public Schools are moving forward with a middle school restructuring, closing an elementary school, and proposing to build a new consolidated facility in the West Side. 

Last Wednesday, the School Committee approved a $87,200,061 district budget for fiscal year 2027 with 13 schools and the transition to an upper elementary and junior high model.  

"We believe that our important milestones are in place to be able to move forward with implementation, so we have some immediate next steps," interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips said about the middle school restructuring. 

"Probably our top next step, after communicating with staff and our families, is moving on to the staff assignment process, and we are also continuing to evaluate our transportation routes to ensure the shortest rides possible for our students to our two citywide middle schools." 

Late last year, the former committee voted to restructure Pittsfield's two middle schools in the fall, with Grades 5 and 6 attending Herberg Middle School and Grades 7 and 8 attending Reid Middle School.  There had been a question of whether the shift could be done for the 2026-2027 academic year or not. 

Middle school principals will soon visit elementary schools, and upcoming middle-grade students will tour Herberg and Reid.  

During public comment, resident Paul Gregory said he understands the move is to improve students' academics and better prepare them for high school. 

"I get it. I think the people of Pittsfield get it," he said. 

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