Pittsfield School District SAU#51

District News

The Pittsfield School Board has extended the school district’s red status through Friday, February 5. The red status means that students and staff will be fully remote during this time period. The decision to extend the remote period was primarily based on three reasons. First, the positivity rate of new COVID-19 cases is now higher than 10%, and the total number of cases in Pittsfield has nearly tripled in the past six weeks. If we moved back into orange or yellow status (hybrid), it is likely we would go back and forth between being open and closed. Finally, we believe this offers stability, consistency, and safety for students and staff during an unpredictable time. The School Board will reassess the school status at its meeting on February 4.

Superintendent

The Pittsfield School Board recently approved the proposed budget for the 2021-2022 school year. The proposed budget is only increasing by $132,000 or 1.2%. The budget includes no new positions or programs. It reflects increases in health insurance (12.6%), teacher retirement (18%), and employee retirement (26%), costs which the school district has no control over. School administration cut $191,681 from the initial budget in order to keep a “hard line” as directed by the Pittsfield School Board. The Pittsfield Budget Committee is currently reviewing the budget and will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget on Thursday, January 14, at 7:00 p.m. in the PMHS gym.

Public Hearing Meeting Notice (includes call-in number and access code)