- The Student Opportunity Act (SOA) is a new state law that makes an extraordinary, once-in-a-generation investment in K-12 public education. Once fully phased in, it will deliver $1.5 billion in additional annual state aid to local public schools, with the bulk of those resources going to the neediest schools and students. Many schools and communities like Pittsfield have already begun to see the benefits of this law. Starting this year (FY2021) the Pittsfield Public Schools will receive SOA funding (approximately $2.9 Million). Over the next seven years the City of Pittsfield is slated to receive additional funding from the state for our public schools as the SOA is fully implemented (estimated at over $20 Million). [Click Here] to read more about the SOA.
- The SOA requires districts like Pittsfield develop three-year plans outlining how new funds will be spent to address educational disparities, and these plans must be submitted to the State for review by April 1st. So these plans are being developed now by the Superintendent, and he must consider input and recommendations from parents, educators in the district, and other relevant community stakeholders (that's us). Just last week in an article in the Berkshie Eagle the Pittsfield Public Schools annouced how they plan to spend some of their new found money:
- More and More Administrators: $168K for two new "vice-principals of teachers and learning" at $84K each. $480K for six new "content facilitators", $400K for five new "accountabiliity coordinators" with a price tag of $80K each, and $90K more for a "reading program implementation specialist".
- A few more Teachers and Paraprofessionals: $65K for a new electrical shop teacher, $100K for two new teachers of ELL Students, $150K for three new SPED teachers at Steans Elementary (all at $50K each), and $200K for eight new Paraprofessionals at PHS/THS (at the bargain price of $25K each).
- Transportation: $200K to cover increased student tranportation costs.
- In the article the District went out of their way to thank local state legislators for "their advocacy" in bringing these funds to PIttsfield. What the District and the Eagle both neglected to mention was how AFT Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA), our members, and our allies fought hard to make this funding a reality. The Legislature and the governor heard our voices and saw our determination, and we (not the local state legislators) made this happen for students, educators, and parents. [Click Here] to read the article.
- What about us? Over the past decade as the City of Pittsfield and our public schools suffered to recover from the economic collapse of the "Great Recession", we've seen our staffing levels reduced, our health insurance benefits cut, and each year we stand by and watch in disbelief as our hourly wages fall steadily towards a rising minimum wage. Although this new law allows money from the SOA to be used to offset the higher cost of our health insurance premiums, no were in the Eagle's article does it mention how the District plans to use any of this new funding to help our families.
- Its time to remind the District and our local elected officials who we are - and what we do every day to make education happen in the Pittsfield Public Schools. Over ninety percent (90%) of the support staff who work in the Pittsfield Public Schools: the Bus Drivers/Attendants, Cafeteria Workers, Custodians, Secretaries/Clerical Workers, and Paraprofessionals/RBTs are residents of the City of Pittsfield. These are our schools and we have a say in how these funds are to be spent! We Are Pittsfield!
- We work hard to make sure the children of Pittsfield get to and from school safely and on-time every day. We work our fingers to the bone preparing and serving our students warm and nutritious meals. We work to make sure that our school buildings are clean, safe, efficiently run and welcoming places for our children to learn. We work on the front lines of education every day - doing whatever it takes - filling all the gaps - making sure every student gets the quality education they deserve. #WhatWeDoMatters!
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