PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City Council on Monday night passed a $67,311,700 appropriation for the fiscal 2022 school budget in an 8-1 vote with only Ward 7 Councilor Anthony Maffuccio.
PITTSFIELD â A $67.3 million school spending plan received preliminary approval from the City Council on Monday, when councilors zeroed in on concerns about teacher and student retention.
The Pittsfield Public Schools budget for next fiscal year represents a 4.4 percent increase over the two most recent fiscal years. Last year, the city adopted a level-funded budget amid concerns that the coronavirus pandemic would send state education funding cratering.
Among the expenses included in the budget are an estimated $1.6 million for contractual obligations, though interim Superintendent Joseph Curtis said negotiations with the districtâs employee unions over new contracts are ongoing. It also includes money for a new Information and Support Services and Networking program and the restoration of four elementary literacy positions the district says were cut from this yearâs budget.
PITTSFIELD â A new diversity, equity and inclusion officer. Sustainable funding for an early childhood education program. The expansion of prekindergarten for every elementary school.
Those are among the highlights of a $67.9 million budget approved Wednesday by the Pittsfield School Committee for the coming fiscal year.
The spending figure requires City Council approval during the city budget process next month, and it reflects an increase of about $3.4 million over the current year â a rise of about 4.4 percent.
The district is banking on an increase in state education funding of at least $1.17 million, which is likely to increase after lawmakers on Beacon Hill finalize a statewide spending plan while advocates press officials to stick to funding levels promised in the Student Opportunity Act.
PITTSFIELD â All Pittsfield elementary schools would offer full-day pre-kindergarten under a proposed budget presented Wednesday. The plan seeks to close achievement gaps and provide mental and academic supports during the COVID-19 recovery.
The proposal comes after a year of financial uncertainty for school districts across the country. The district intends to use millions of federal coronavirus grant dollars to hire 22 staff to help students and educators deal with pandemic impacts over the next two years.
A preliminary spending plan proposed by Gov. Charlie Baker would increase the districtâs state education funding by $1,170,548, though Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance Kristen Behnke said the increase could end up as high as $4 million when state leaders finalize the budget.