PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Public Schools will revisit its cell phone and personal communication policies to ensure there are clear expectations. 

A mother had reported that an educator gathered student contact information, such as personal email and phone number, via a new school year form and wasn't pleased with the administration's response.  

After some heated testimony at the Sept. 23 School Committee meeting, the Policy subcommittee was charged with reassessing and clarifying the district's rules for electronic communication with staff.  

Superintendent Latifah Phillips has heard that parents want informed consent when their child's information is collected; this was confirmed by caregivers who spoke during public comment at the subcommittee meeting on Tuesday at the Mercer Administration Building. 

"The intention is for us to update the policy to have an expectation and requirement that parents are informed about when we need to collect student information," Phillips said. 

"I think the other piece around information we still need to gather is what are all of the ways that staff are needing to contact students so that we can know that whatever we write, it's broad enough for everyone's appropriate needs."

The administration will return in November with new proposed language to clear any grey areas. 

Phillips recognized times where it might be appropriate to collect student contact information, such as for field trips, clubs, athletics, or in Career Technical Education programs. She thinks there is a way PPS can get informed consent and meet the needs of staff, "which are, in most cases, well-intentioned."