School Committee renews Taconic vocational admissions policy; district reports rising enrollment and Chapter 70 revenue

The school committee unanimously renewed the district’s STU‑11 career and technical education admissions policy on Jan. 8, retaining the year‑by‑year requirement that the committee review and publish the policy and seat counts.

Under the current policy, Pittsfield residents are given priority for seats at Taconic Career & Technical High School; nonresident applicants may be admitted only if space is available. The policy removed former selection criteria such as attendance, grades or behavior and provides for a lottery if applications exceed available seats. The committee took the renewal as the annual action required by DESE Chapter 74 regulation.

Assistant administrators reporting at the meeting said Taconic’s 9th‑grade vocational enrollment has grown significantly since the school launched its vocational conversion. The presentation compared FY19 enrollment (324) with FY25 estimates of roughly 620 students at Taconic, and projected FY26 Chapter 70 reimbursement growth tied to increased vocational enrollment. The presenter said vocational per‑pupil reimbursement rates are higher than the regular high‑school rate and that the district anticipates additional Chapter 70 revenue as Taconic continues to fill vocational seats.

Officials said admissions for the Class of 2029 open Feb. 1; a limited number of seats may be offered to current 9th‑grade students for the class of 2028 where available. The administration noted regulatory hour requirements limit students’ ability to join a Chapter 74 program after fall of 10th grade in most pathways.

The committee voted to renew the policy and to make the annual Feb. 1 seat and application timeline public. Committee members asked administrators to continue monitoring capacity and to publicize available seats and adult training options for graduates and community members.

Motion to renew STU‑11 carried by voice vote with no recorded opposition.