Pittsfield Boards to Select School Committee Replacement

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee and City Council will meet Wednesday evening to fill a vacancy on the School Committee left by the abrupt departure of Dennis Powell.

Five letters of interest have been submitted for the term expiring in December.

Powell resigned April 14 in protest over the committee's decision to offer the superintendent's position to Joseph Curtis, the deputy superintendent who'd been temporarily filling the post since last fall.

Powell had been the only supporter of Portia Bonner, a Connecticut administrator and the only Black candidate. He signed off during the Zoom meeting and submitted a formal resignation letter to City Clerk Michele Benjamin on April 29.

In accordance with the city charter, both committee and council will meet Wednesday at 6 p.m. to vote on a replacement to complete the last months of Powell's four-year term.

"For a better part of 3 1/2 years, I have tried and thought that I could make a difference in the educational system of Pittsfield Public Schools by being a member of the school committee. Over these past 3 1/2 years, I've been disrespected, ignored, and at times made to feel that my voice meant nothing!" Powell wrote in his letter.

"How the Superintendents process was handled and based on the outcome; was abundantly clear to me; this school committee is not committed to diversity equity and inclusion. Every child is entitled to receive a quality, equitable education!"

The day after Curtis' appointment and Powell's informal resignation, Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey addressed those who voted for Curtis: Mayor Linda Tyer, Daniel Elias, William Cameron, and Chairwoman Katherine Yon, in a Facebook post and email stating that they had failed the district with their selection.

Councilor at Large Earl Persip III and Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Maffuccio seconded Kavey's sentiments over email.  
 
Persip said the superintendent selection was thorough up until the point of selection, where the interviews and voting occurred on three consecutive days.

"I am extremely sorry that Mr. Powell has made a decision to resign," Mayor Linda Tyer told iBerkshires following Powell's resignation. "And I hope that he will reconsider. I understand his frustration and disappointment and I am committed to continuing this work, even when we disagree."

Members of the committee have expressed that they wish that they could have convinced Powell to stay.  

"I have known Dennis for quite a long time, I was I was very disappointed to learn of his resignation," Elias said. "I tried to reach out to him, hopeful that he would change his mind. You know, of course, he didn't."

Elias said he is curious to see how Wednesday's meeting plays out, as this has never happened before under this charter.

Pittsfield Council Gives Preliminary OK to $82M School Budget

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:31PM / Thursday, May 23, 2024

State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, with Superintendent Joseph Curtis, says the Student Opportunity Act if fully funded this year. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council left no stone unturned as it took four hours to preliminarily approve the school budget on Monday. At $82,885,277, the fiscal year 2025 spending plan is a $4,797,262 — or 6.14 percent — increase from this year.

It was a divisive vote, passing 6-4 with one councilor absent, and survived two proposals for significant cuts.  

"I think we have fiduciary responsibility to the citizens of Pittsfield and to have a budget that is responsible, taking into consideration the huge increase in taxes that it had the last couple of years, the last year in particular," said Councilor at Large Kathy Amuso, a former School Committee chair, who unsuccessfully motioned for a $730,000 reduction.

Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren responded with a motion for a $250,000 cut, which failed 5-5.  

The Pittsfield Public School budget is balanced by $1.5 million in cuts and includes about 50 full-time equivalent reductions in staff — about 40 due to the sunsetting of federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds. With 27 FTE staff additions, there is a net reduction of nearly 23 FTEs.

This plan does not come close to meeting the needs that were expressed throughout the seven-month budget process, Superintendent Joseph Curtis explained, but was brought forward in partnership with all city departments recognizing that each must make sacrifices in financial stewardship.

"With humility, I address the council tonight firmly believing that the budget we unveiled was crafted admits very difficult decisions, struggles, along with some transformative changes," he said.

"It is still important though that it did not even come close to accommodating the urgent requests we received throughout the entire budget process."