District building for the future

A Call For Change On The West Side

rience around the city.

By Matt Martinez

The

Berkshire Eagle

PITTSFIELD – As enrollment fluctuates, the Pittsfield Public School system asks: what should be done with the city’s schools?

The district is in the midst of a school facilities and district structure study that could result in a shift of grade levels in some buildings, a realignment that will veer away from the current “neighborhood” model and add a whole new facility for the West Side.

The expected changes could take years to materialize, but the process to gather community feedback is currently underway.

Administrators began analyzing school buildings after a request from community members to replace Conte Community School and Morningside Community School, two elementary buildings that are considered to be outdated due to their design and a historic lack of maintenance. Crosby Elementary School was soon added into the mix.

The stage was set for an updated building on the West Side.

It soon blossomed into a districtwide analysis and a discussion of how best to use existing resources, Superintendent Joseph Curtis said.

The district alignment has been in place for roughly half a century, he said, and a number of improvements could help enhance the student expe-

“As the conversation evolved, we really said this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to really do a comprehensive study of our school district,” Curitis said.

The process began this time last year, when the district contracted with DRA Architects in Waltham to conduct the study. Since then, the consultants have assessed each school building to determine its needs, and surveyed staff, students and families about what changes they would like to see.

Realigning The Grades

The survey led to discussions of a reconfiguration of grade levels in pre-existing school buildings to make the best use of available space, as the district prepares for a decline in enrollment over the next five years, followed by a gradual increase in the subsequent five years.

One of the current proposals would spread the grade levels out evenly so there are about 400 students at each school at the early elementary level, then enrollments of 750 each for grades 5 and 6 and grades 7 and 8.

The reconfigurations will allow the schools to eventually get everyone moved into newer facilities – but it isn’t as easy as just closing the older buildings.

“We can’t just close three buildings … and disperse the students to the five remaining buildings,” Curtis said. “It’s just not possible. And it’s particularly not possible if we want to offer universal pre-K, which is an- other question on the table.”

Reconfiguring Attendance Districts

Another proposal meant to help guide children to new schools would dismantle the system’s current attendance districts.

The current structure basically sends students to the closest place to where they live, split into eight attendance districts across the city.

“I’m going to argue that [has] kept our city very segregated,” Curtis said. “Which I will also argue is not best for our students.”

The newly proposed system would cut the city into thirds, and accordingly send children to larger, more diverse attendance districts.

There would be three districts in total. Each attendance district would have elementary schools that were partnering with each other, moving away from what has historically been a neighborhood model.

A New School In The Shadow Of Crosby

One of the key possibilities is construction of a new elementary school for students on the West Side. Curtis estimates that the project will likely cost somewhere between $100 million and $110 million, but said that estimate is likely subject to change.

The recent presentation by district leadership indicates that the proposal will be for a new elementary school built on the campus where Crosby Elementary School is currently located. This would provide for minimal disruption and could house a wide range of grades depending on its size.

The shortest timeline for the new school would see construction begin in 2027 and open in 2028; the longest timeline would delay that process by a year.

Before any project could begin, the district would first need to conduct a feasibility study, assess financing options and sign off on a design for a new building. It needs to submit a Statement of Intent for the new school by April 12 to operate on those timelines.

Administrators Still Want Feedback

In the meantime, Brendan Sheran, project facilitator for the study, said that he is trying to “cast as wide a net as (he) can” to get feedback from people in the school community. Sheran is currently going to open houses at the district’s middle and high schools to engage visiting families.

He said there would be more community engagement sessions in early March, and Curtis noted that the redistricting study will be a weekly agenda item at upcoming School Committee meetings.

While these proposals are solidifying for the near future, Sheran said that there will be more to come as part of the restructure, and that anyone who has ideas they feel passionately about should reach out.

“There’s a lot of things we’re thinking about as we develop this timeline for this immediate part of the restructure,” Sheran said. “But it’s really a much longer adventure.”