PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Public Schools are moving forward with a middle school restructuring, closing an elementary school, and proposing to build a new consolidated facility in the West Side. 

Last Wednesday, the School Committee approved a $87,200,061 district budget for fiscal year 2027 with 13 schools and the transition to an upper elementary and junior high model.  

"We believe that our important milestones are in place to be able to move forward with implementation, so we have some immediate next steps," interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips said about the middle school restructuring. 

"Probably our top next step, after communicating with staff and our families, is moving on to the staff assignment process, and we are also continuing to evaluate our transportation routes to ensure the shortest rides possible for our students to our two citywide middle schools." 

Late last year, the former committee voted to restructure Pittsfield's two middle schools in the fall, with Grades 5 and 6 attending Herberg Middle School and Grades 7 and 8 attending Reid Middle School.  There had been a question of whether the shift could be done for the 2026-2027 academic year or not. 

Middle school principals will soon visit elementary schools, and upcoming middle-grade students will tour Herberg and Reid.  

During public comment, resident Paul Gregory said he understands the move is to improve students' academics and better prepare them for high school. 

"I get it. I think the people of Pittsfield get it," he said.