Most of Pittsfield School Committee Bids Farewell
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee will look much different after inauguration day, as Daniel Elias is the only member who will return.
On Wednesday, during the last meeting of the term, departing School Committee members shared their thanks and reflections on the state of education in Pittsfield. Sara Hathaway unsuccessfully ran for councilor at large, and Chair William Cameron, William Garrity, Diana Belair, and Dominick Sacco did not seek re-election.
"I always like to take this opportunity to say goodbye to the other members. Usually it's one or maybe two, never this many," Elias said.
He, Ciara Batory, Sarah Muil, Katherine Yon, Heather McNeice, and Carolyn Barry will be sworn in at 10 a.m. on Jan. 5 at City Hall.
This is the end of Cameron's fourth consecutive term on the School Committee; he also served two terms in the 1990s.
"There are many issues that arise. Some of them are relatively simple to understand, easy to solve, and some of them are highly complicated and are not easy to solve. In all of the instances where either of those issues has come before the committee, I think I'm fortunate over those two periods to have worked with reasonable, dedicated people who want the best for the students of the city, which really means who want the best for the community," he said.
"And so I would like to thank those who've supported me in the past, and I look forward to the next School Committee being constructive, open-minded, and committed to what's best for the students of the city."
Over this term, the committee handled the middle school restructuring, which was given the green light later that night, the proposal to rebuild and consolidate Crosby Elementary School and Conte Community School on West Street, and the staffing scandal that Pittsfield High School became embroiled in in late 2024.
All of this is coupled with federal funding uncertainties.
Interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips shared how important the School Committee has been to her onboarding over the summer and stepping into the district's challenges.
"You didn't ask me simply to endure challenges or struggle to prove myself. Instead, you believe in me, you've given me the space to grow, the encouragement to stretch, and the expectation that I can truly soar," she said.
"You question, you poke, you prod, but not to tear anything down, but to make our work stronger, grounded in honesty, integrity, and hope. You've entrusted me with meaningful responsibility and welcomed me into the heart of this community. Serving you and leading our public schools has been, thus far, a joyful, renewing chapter in my life, and I want to thank you for this opportunity."
Belair said she is impressed with the Pittsfield Public Schools administration and fellow committee members, adding, "It's been an honor, and this has been a crazy term, and we made it out."
As a firm believer in public education, she said a strong school district will make a strong Pittsfield, and she is happy to move on and help in other ways.
Elias and Garrity both addressed each of their colleagues.
Garrity, who graduated from Taconic High School in 2022, was a student representative before being elected to the committee in 2023. He admitted that he was a "bit naive" thinking this would be a good two years, then he would run for re-election and hopefully return for another term.
"Boy, was it wrong about that," he said. "I don't think anyone could have expected the challenges we have faced this term."
He reported going back and forth on the decision to step back, but will be focusing on personal and professional obligations.
"I really still want to stay involved locally in Pittsfield because I believe the city has a lot of great things to do and directions to go in," Garrity said.
Hathaway thanked her colleagues and the school staff, explaining, "I see how hard you work every day, and I'm really grateful for the professionalism and dedication you're bringing to our students, and I hope you have a supportive policy-making body who will lift you up in the years to come."
Sacco said he learned a lot in his first experience on the School Committee, even though he has been in the school system for over 30 years in various roles.
He advised that there is still a lot to learn, and you are never done.
"I want to commend Superintendent Phillips for coming on board and really taking a very good, hard look at what she can do, along with her colleagues, to make Pittsfield a good, equitable place to learn," Sacco said.
"And I feel like it is. I was born and raised here. All my family members went through the Pittsfield Public School system, and everybody turned out okay, so I know that."
Tags: Pittsfield Public Schools,
