$87.2M Budget Proposed for Pittsfield Schools in FY27
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The proposed fiscal year 2027 budget for Pittsfield schools is a modest 0.4 percent increase from the previous year.
On Wednesday, the administration previewed the proposed $87.2 million FY27 spending plan to the School Committee. It was developed using a Fair Student Funding formula that shifts away from a traditional staffing-based budgeting to student-based budgeting.
"In my new role, I chose the Fair Student Funding model primarily because it is student-centered and equity-driven, and it ensures that resources are allocated based on student needs," interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips said.
"It has also provided us with the opportunity to understand every aspect of the budget, how it's distributed currently, and that increases our accountability, not only for managing the budget, but also for setting goals and monitoring the outcomes."
The School Committee had to vote to extend the meeting for another hour twice, breaking to discuss contract negotiations and the PHS investigation reports in executive session for more than an hour, and adjourning past 10 p.m.
The proposed $87,200,061 budget for FY27 includes $68,855,061 in Chapter 70 funds, an $18 million city appropriation, and $345,000 in school choice and Richmond tuition funds. Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Bonnie Howland described the $299,700 increase as a "need-based budget" that is "very lean."
A line-by-line budget will be presented on March 25.
The spending plan bolsters Conte and Morningside community schools, which face physical plant issues as open classroom schools, and are one of seven PPS institutions that have been identified as needing academic acceleration and improvement.
The district faced a $4 million shortfall and has proposed the reduction of more than 21 full-time equivalent positions. Phillips said they have had to make "really difficult decisions," and as a leader, she aims to approach the work with transparency and accountability.
She shared that "the process is not closed," but any changes would require adjustments in other areas.
The administration tried to mitigate the gap in funding with the least impact on staff by analyzing class sizes, attrition, and retirements, and seeing where grants can be utilized. Potential staffing adjustments reduce 13 full-time equivalent staff members on the elementary level, and 8.5 FTEs, including 7.5 FTE teachers. This comes to a net reduction of 21.5 FTEs, and some positions can cross K-12 and be considered for placement within a different building.
Howland asked the committee to keep in mind that this is the first pass of the budget, reporting that since the presentation was prepared, she has received new information about diesel fuel cost increases, and "we’re already looking at having to find another $360,000 just within the past 24 hours."
As of March 9, Pittsfield Public Schools serve 4,825 students and 1,738 full-time equivalent employees across 14 facilities, encompassing over 1.2 million square feet of buildings. The FSF formula does not apply to Crosby Academy and Eagle Academy.
For the FSF formula, Pittsfield’s elementary schools were tiered based on accountability scores:
Tier 1- Capeless, Egremont, Williams
Tier 2- Allendale, Stearns
Tier 3- Conte, Crosby, Morningside
The initial allocation was then given out using a per-pupil rate, Tier 1 schools having a base student rate of $6,500, Tier 2 schools having a base student weight of $8,125 per student, and Tier 3 schools having a $9,750 per student rate. Secondary schools are weighted $6,700 per student.
"The formula worked. It did show us which schools needed more resources, so that was a good lesson that we learned," Howland said.
For the 2026-2027 school year, Conte Community School would have a budget of $5,224,700, and Morningside and Community School would have a budget of $5,248,750. Williams Elementary School would see just over $2 million, Capeless would see $1.96 million, and Egremont would see $3.47 million.
"I will very openly share that our community schools, through the funding model, received quite a bit of money," Phillips said.
"… In order for them to be successful, we had to put a lot of resources into that building that we would not necessarily put into a building if it had walls, but for us not to do that is to not invest in bringing them up to a level playing field."
In the FY27 proposal, administration costs for the central office, School Committee, legal settlements, special projects, and district technology increased by 13.2 percent. Instructional costs decreased by 1.7 percent from class leveling, review of staff roles, and maximizing vacancies.
About $3.2 million in Special Education Reimbursement Program, commonly known as the Circuit Breaker Program, funding to supplement tuition payments, which can run as much as $10 million.
At the beginning of the School Committee meeting, some public comment speakers praised the budget approach and called for Phillips to be appointed as permanent superintendent.
Resident Rebecca Thompson recalled less than one year ago, when Phillips described her professional experience in three countries and six states, as well as her core values: holding high expectations for students, creating lasting partnerships with the parents and community, transparency, honesty, and data-driven decision-making in education systems that can empower and heal.
"She has lived up to these values in just eight short months, has demonstrated that she is the leader that the Pittsfield Public Schools need. She has created light and hope," Thompson said.
"Opening up a search will be costly in money, but also in time and energy taken away from other priorities. It is highly unlikely the search will produce a candidate with a richer background of experience and more skilled in addressing the deep problems that afflict our schools than Dr. Phillips."
Emily Day, a classroom educator of more than 25 years, commended the work she and her team have done to listen, research, and plan during a year when the district faces the very difficult task of moving forward while also cutting $4 million from the budget.
What stood out to her was that the plan was "clearly" grounded in the district's mission, vision, and values, especially educational equity.
"During my years working in Pittsfield, I saw firsthand many of the challenges our district faces: disparities between student and staff demographics, the rapid growth of our English language learner population, and significant differences in resources and needs across our schools. I was encouraged to see that Dr. Phillips' plan reflects a clear understanding of these realities and addresses the needs of students, teachers, and principals, while also emphasizing stronger family and community engagement. There are great needs in this community, and supporting our students will require the entire village," she said.
"… She has immersed herself in the district and community in a thoughtful and constructive way. As the district moves through a period of restructuring and transition, continuity of leadership will matter. Dr. Phillips has already shown that she listens, engages with the community, and leads with a clear commitment to equity."
Tags: fiscal 2027, pittsfield_budget, school budget,
