Pittsfield School Committee to See Flag Ordinance

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:52AM / Tuesday, July 22, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee will decide a policy to keep flag displays consistent with the district's sentiments.

On the agenda for Wednesday's meeting is a first reading of a "Flag Protocols on School Property" policy similar to an ordinance adopted by the City Council the prior week.

It allows Pittsfield's flag, the United States flag, flags of other nations recognized by the U.S. government, and flags commemorating significant events or causes consistent with the school district's official sentiments.

Last week, the Policy Subcommittee forwarded it to the School Committee with an amendment to have flag decisions made by the committee and the superintendent, rather than just the superintendent.

"Nobody could come to us and say, 'We want our white supremacist flag to fly, just because you have to give equal consideration to all points of view,' because we would say 'No, it has to be the official sentiments of the School Committee,'" member Sara Hathaway said as an example of situations it could prevent.

School Committee member William Garrity, who proposed the policy, explained that it is recommended for districts to have a resolution or policy on flag protocols. This policy is based on a model from the Framingham Public Schools with language from the flag ordinance approved by the council.

The amendment was made to align with the council's ordinance, which gives the council specific governance over flags.

During the City Council meeting on July 8, Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren said, "By voting of the City Council, it shows the community that there's support behind that and not just the whim of some one particular person."

"The purpose of this policy is to establish the Pittsfield Public School's guidelines for the display of flags of governments recognized by the Federal Government, and other flags on the school district property," the school's policy reads.

It directs classrooms, auditoriums, and "other appropriate indoor locations" in school buildings to fly the American flag, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts flag to be flown in all auditoriums.

Under the policy, flags are subject to the discretion of the superintendent with the approval of the School Committee, and outdoor flags should be lowered to half-staff when directed by the president, governor, or mayor in honor of the death of a key individual or for a specific event or circumstance.

Also on the agenda is the selection of upper and lower middle school facilities, a result of the late June vote to create an upper elementary school for Grades 5-6 and a junior high school for Grades 7-8 by the 2026-2027 academic year.

The Middle School Restructuring Committee is set to meet at Reid Middle School on Tuesday to discuss continued work.

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Pittsfield Council Revisiting DEI Office Rename

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
04:11PM / Tuesday, October 13, 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The conversation about the DEI office renaming that was halted by a charter objection will resume on Tuesday.

The City Council will discuss a request from Mayor Peter Marchetti to rename the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

It proposes to rename the DEI office to the Office of Equity, Access, and Opportunity and merge the Human Rights Commission and Affirmative Action Committee into an Equity, Access and Opportunity Commission.

The Ordinance and Rules Subcommittee supported the changes in August, and in September, Ward 2 Councilor Cameron Cunningham delayed the vote with a charter objection.

Pittsfield's City Code prohibits charter states that "if a single member present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council." It also stipulates that at least four members must object if it is an emergency measure.

Cunningham also submitted a petition, which was referred to O&R under Rule 27, to replace the DEI Office and the Human Rights Commission with an equity, access, and opportunity coordinator in the Department of Community Development, with formal complaints and Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action functions assigned to Human Resources.

At the last meeting, he spent more than an hour querying the mayor and chief diversity officer about functions and effectiveness of the department, wanting more quantitative data. Cunningham proposed an ordinance that he says keeps Pittsfield's commitment to equity, access, and opportunity, "refocuses it on measurable results for our residents, and delivers it at a fraction of the current cost."

Under this petition, the equity, access, and opportunity coordinator would be a $60,000 to $80,000 per year position.

The DEI Office's fiscal year 2027 budget was about $200,000 after cuts during budget season; $106,700 for the chief diversity officer and $58,000 for the administrative assistant. The coordinator would be appointed by the director of community development and the mayor.

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