Pittsfield Public Schools Public Hearing on Proposed Middle Grade Restructuring

08:08AM / Tuesday, June 03, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pursuant to School Committee Policy SC-64 Policy for Redistricting of Schools, which guarantees the community a formal opportunity to comment on any proposed change that affects school attendance zones, the Pittsfield Public Schools (PPS) School Committee will hold a public hearing on Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.

The purpose of this hearing is to gather input from parents, students, staff, and other residents regarding a proposal to restructure middle?grade education into two grade spans: Grades 5–6 and Grades 7–8.

If approved, the plan would modify current school attendance zones, which now assign students to a middle school based strictly on home address.

Key Points of the Proposal

Grade Configuration:
- Grades 5–6 would be housed together to support the transition from elementary to middle school.
- Grades 7–8 would focus on preparing students for the academic and social demands of high school.
Attendance Zones: Current middle school boundaries would be eliminated, and all students would attend the designated Grade 5–6 school followed by the Grade 7–8 school, regardless of where they live.
- Educational Rationale: The reconfiguration aims to provide more targeted academic programming, age?appropriate social?emotional supports, and expanded elective options.

How to Participate

In?Person Testimony: Community members wishing to speak may sign up in the City Hall Chambers beginning at 5:15 p.m.
Livestream & Recording: The hearing will be livestreamed on Pittsfield Community Television (Channel 1302).

Next Steps

Following the public hearing, the School Committee will review all feedback and determine whether to move the proposal forward for a vote on June 25, 2025. Any approved changes would take effect during the 2025–2026 school year.

For more information, please visit https://www.pittsfield.net/en-US/middle-school-restructuring-c455a246

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Pittsfield Committee Recommends Scanlon for City Audit

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:30AM / Thursday, August 06, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— After the bid for a new auditing company came back over 30 percent higher, Pittsfield will stick with Scanlon and Associates.

On Tuesday, the Auditing Services Evaluation Committee voted to advance Scanlon to the City Council for an independent audit. CliftonLarsonAllen also responded to the bid, but came in costing $120,000 more.

"I have to go with saving money for the city. I mean, the discrepancy is too much of a difference," committee member Karen Kalinowsky said.

"The city could have use for that difference over the next three years."

This process was prompted by Rule 40 of the council rules and the City Charter, where in any year the City Council votes to hold a procurement process for an independent certified public accountant or firm to audit Pittsfield's books and accounts, the city must, through its Finance Committee with the assistance of the purchasing department, solicit requests for proposals or invitations for bids before June 1.

The council in March recommended that the purchasing agent draft a request for proposals and put it out to bid.

Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren, who has been vocally in favor of the independent audit for years, said the city doesn't have to follow a bidding process for the professional service, "We are doing this so the public knows that we're being professional, and a looking for other options, looking at what the best options are, and comparing them based on what they can offer and what the cost is."

Board member Kathy Amuso said both CLA and Scanlon have equitable reviews with high recommendations. Especially considering the budget crisis Pittsfield is in, she moved to recommend Scanlon to the full council.

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