PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Right after the School Committee voted to close Morningside Community School, members saw how it will affect the fiscal year 2027 budget. 

The $87,200,061 budget for FY27 remains, but funds that would have gone to Morningside are following students to four other schools. 

"As we look at the high-level totals, you notice that the total budget amount is the same. We only have so many dollars to work with. Even though that doesn't change, the composition of spending changes," Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Bonnie Howland explained. 

Mayor Peter Marchetti, chair of the School Committee, said this year's budget process was "extremely confusing," because of coming changes within the Pittsfield Public Schools, including the middle school restructuring. 

The proposed FY27 budget for the School Department includes $68,886,061 in state Chapter 70 funding and $18 million from the city.  A 13-school plan, excluding Morningside, saves in instruction, school services, and operations and maintenance, allowing those funds to be reinvested across the district. 

Last week, the House Ways and Means Committee released a budget that brings an additional $858,660 to PPS. This includes a rate of $160 per pupil minimum school aid, and Fair Share Amendment earmarks secured by state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier and state Sen. Paul Mark. 

Morningside's pupils will be reassigned to Allendale, Capeless, Egremont, and Williams elementary schools.  For fiscal year 2027, the district had allocated about $5.2 million for Morningside.

Officials identified school's lack of classroom walls as the most significant obstacle, creating a difficult and noisy learning environment that is reflected in its accountability score.