Brien Center Hires Ethics and Compliance Officer

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Brien Center for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services announced the appointment of Dr. Bella Mironovna Guner as Ethics and Compliance Officer, a key leadership position supporting the agency's mission to deliver high-quality, community-based behavioral health and addiction services throughout Berkshire County.
 
Guner brings to the role over 20 years of experience spanning child welfare, developmental psychology, and higher education. Her career began in the nonprofit sector, where she dedicated 15 years to improving outcomes for children and families, rising through the ranks from direct care staff to clinician and ultimately to Director of Quality Improvement.
 
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Brandeis University, a Master's degree in Developmental Psychology from Johns Hopkins University, and a Doctorate in Developmental Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park. Her unique blend of academic training and real-world application enables her to bring a systems-oriented perspective to the complex work of ethics and compliance in behavioral health.
 
Prior to joining the Brien Center, Dr. Guner served as Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Psychology at Maria College, where she led curriculum development and institutional planning. She also served as adjunct faculty in the graduate psychology program at The College of Saint Rose.
 
In her new position, Dr. Guner is responsible for guiding the agency's efforts in regulatory compliance, ethical standards, and internal accountability. Her work supports the Brien Center's commitment to delivering equitable, person-centered, and trauma-informed care across all service lines.
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Trifecta of Pittsfield School Projects Moving Forward

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Public Schools are moving forward with a middle school restructuring, closing an elementary school, and proposing to build a new consolidated facility in the West Side. 

Last Wednesday, the School Committee approved a $87,200,061 district budget for fiscal year 2027 with 13 schools and the transition to an upper elementary and junior high model.  

"We believe that our important milestones are in place to be able to move forward with implementation, so we have some immediate next steps," interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips said about the middle school restructuring. 

"Probably our top next step, after communicating with staff and our families, is moving on to the staff assignment process, and we are also continuing to evaluate our transportation routes to ensure the shortest rides possible for our students to our two citywide middle schools." 

Late last year, the former committee voted to restructure Pittsfield's two middle schools in the fall, with Grades 5 and 6 attending Herberg Middle School and Grades 7 and 8 attending Reid Middle School.  There had been a question of whether the shift could be done for the 2026-2027 academic year or not. 

Middle school principals will soon visit elementary schools, and upcoming middle-grade students will tour Herberg and Reid.  

During public comment, resident Paul Gregory said he understands the move is to improve students' academics and better prepare them for high school. 

"I get it. I think the people of Pittsfield get it," he said. 

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