Elizabeth Freeman Center Relocates

02:06PM / Thursday, December 19, 2024Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Elizabeth Freeman Center (EFC) has moved its main office from 43 Francis Ave. to 66 Allen St. in the center of Pittsfield.

Its satellite offices at 168 Main St. in Great Barrington and 61 Main St. in North Adams will continue to operate as normal.

This move addresses challenges posed by the current office, which no longer has the capacity to address the growing needs of survivors and the community. After months of searching for solutions, Elizabeth Freeman center completed the purchase of the building, made possible by a mortgage from Lee Bank, on August 19th, 2024.

"We are thrilled to take this step forward in our mission to serve survivors," said Divya Chaturvedi, the new Executive Director of EFC.

EFC is the primary domestic violence program and rape crisis center for Berkshire County. The organization has staff sited in four county courts, two police stations, Berkshire County Kids' Place, and Berkshire Pride, as well as a safe shelter. EFC serves over 4,000 survivors and their families every year and provides violence prevention/sex education to approximately 600 youth in Berkshire County schools.

Tags: elizabeth freeman center, relocation,

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Pittsfield Schools Schedule Morningside, Budget Hearings This Week

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:23AM / Monday, April 06, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee will hold another public hearing for the potential closure of Morningside Community School.

On Thursday, April 9, at 6 p.m., community members will have the chance to give feedback in the Reid Middle School library. Last month, the Pittsfield Public Schools announced the possible closure of Morningside, which serves elementary grades, for the 2026-2027 school year and redistribution of its students to other city schools.

In the last couple of weeks, the district has solicited input from employees and community members through meetings at the school.

Morningside Community School was built in the mid-1970s with an open classroom concept. Morningside serves about 374 students and has a 7 percent accountability score, outperformed by 93 percent of the state.

For fiscal year 2027, the district has allocated about $5.2 million for the school. The committee has also requested a version of the proposed $87.2 million district budget with Morningside closed.

Pittsfield has another open concept school, Conte Community School, that is planned to consolidate with Crosby Elementary School, and possibly Stearns Elementary School, in a new building on the Crosby site by 2030. The status of the project's owner's project manager will be discussed on Tuesday, April 7, at 5 p.m. at Taconic High School during the School Building Needs Commission meeting.

That leaves the school officials wondering if Morningside students could have better educational outcomes if resources followed them to other nearby schools. Interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips has stressed that a decision has not yet been made.

Considerations for the school’s closure include: The feasibility of the facility to provide a conducive teaching and learning environment with an open campus design, the funding allocation needed to ensure Morningside students can have equitable learning opportunities, and declining enrollment across Pittsfield elementary schools.