PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The district will test air and water quality at Pittsfield High School as it prepares to request funding for "in need but not dire" renovations. 

The School Committee last week received a report card on Pittsfield High School's physical condition, which was described as "poor" and in need of restoration to its original character. 

The 1931 building's quality reflects the materials used at that time, and those strong bones were noted during the conversation. 

"Yes, the school is in really poor condition and needs to be addressed, but I also think that we don't need to push an alarm, panic button, and create panic of whether or not certain things are there," Mayor Peter Marchetti said. 

"… To me, if this was a doom and gloom, 'Oh my God, get the kids out,' it would be a lot more strongly worded."

He and Superintendent Latifah Phillips toured PHS the previous week and heard concerns about air and water quality. Testing will be done before school is back in session; there was some air quality testing done two years ago. 

The city is pursuing a statement of interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority, a quasi-independent government agency, to cover up to 80 percent of the cost for renovations. The Pittsfield Public Schools submitted statements of interest for five schools since 2007, and only two have been accepted: Taconic High School in 2009 and the proposed Crosby/Conte elementary build in 2024. 

Marchetti believes PHS saw the "fastest statement of interest in the history of the City of Pittsfield." Without state funding, he said it will take 50 years to fix the issues.