Pittsfield's Crosby School Improves Accountability Score
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — While the city works to solve outdated facility issues, Crosby Elementary School has improved its accountability score.
During the Sept. 23 School Committee meeting, Superintendent Latifah Phillips highlighted some positive news: In the most recent school accountability data, Crosby has exited "requiring assistance or intervention" status.
She recognized the student and educator effort over the past couple of years and explained exiting this status is "very difficult." Principal Candy Seward and other school staff will be invited to speak to committee members about the steps they have taken to get here.
"There is still tremendous room for continuous improvement, but I think it's important for us to acknowledge the successes along the way," Phillips said.
Accountability reports rank district and school performance against improvement targets, as well as information about each school's overall performance compared to others in the state.
Based on current accountability data, the Pittsfield Public Schools do not require assistance and have made "moderate" progress toward targets. Both middle and high schools and Conte Community School are in "requiring assistance or intervention" status.
PPS' average daily attendance is 93 percent, a metric Phillips would like to improve.
"I’m not satisfied with that percentage, so we are going to continue to review our data and employ strategies and utilize our new roles that we've added in our school to support family engagement and attendance," she said.
Pittsfield is studying the feasibility of consolidating and combining Crosby Elementary School, Conte Community School, and possibly Stearns Elementary School, seeking up to 80 percent reimbursement from the Massachusetts School Building Authority.
The project’s Preliminary Design Program will be submitted at the end of January 2027; a new school on West Street is estimated to be at least five years out.
Planners will need to narrow down 15 design options. A request for proposals was made for three enrollments: Just Crosby, Crosby and Conte, or Crosby, Conte, and Stearns. Construction strategies, such as a new build or renovation, will also need to be considered.
As part of the educational program submission, there will be visits to recently built schools that have similar academic programming.
"There are four schools here that a team of us will be visiting again to not only look at their facility but how their facility is helping to move their educational program forward," Phillips reported.
Seward shared with the School Building Needs Commission last month that the school had a rough summer with building damage and plumbing issues, and she is concerned about the school’s condition in the meantime. Phillips said it is a priority and the district will move responsibly quick.
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