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Pittsfield school leaders explain central‑office reorganization, note net 1.5 FTE reduction
Summary
Superintendent presented a revised central‑office structure intended to improve school performance and meet DESE expectations; the plan added a Title‑grant‑offset assistant superintendent post, moved some tasks to schools, and reduced net staffing by 1.5 FTE since the budget submission.
Superintendent Curtis returned to the council and school committee to explain a central office reorganization crafted to accelerate school improvement and meet Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) expectations for districts with multiple schools in 'status.' The reorganization moved from a single assistant superintendent concept to a configuration that includes an assistant superintendent for school transformation and accountability, partially funded by Title grant dollars to create a locally‑funded savings.
Curtis said the district presented multiple versions of the proposal during budget hearings and that feedback from principals and committee members prompted changes. "The original one had one assistant superintendent of curriculum instruction and educational engagement," he said, adding that the committee and school leaders concluded that a different structure would be more supportive. The revised structure uses grant funding to offset roughly 50 percent of one position's local cost, Curtis said.
Administrators also outlined specific reductions since the budget packet: a 1.0 FTE intervention coordinator and a 0.5 FTE arts integration coordinator have been reduced or reallocated, and some arts integration work will be transitioned back to schools. Assistant superintendents and directors described responsibilities for college and career readiness, instructional support, Title grant oversight, and business operations. Tammy Gage said she submitted about $2.1 million in grant applications and reported $1,561,310 awarded to date to support CTE programming and equipment.
Committee members asked for clarity on who oversees certain functions and on how such reorganizations affect net school spending and operational control. Members accepted the report and placed it on file; the record shows voice votes in the affirmative.
