Pittsfield Eyes OPM for Crosby/Conte, Seeks Funds for PHS
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city plans to hire an owner's project manager for the Crosby/Conte proposal this week and pursue additional school construction funds from the MSBA.
The School Building Needs Commission last week voted to move forward with a statement of interest to the Massachusetts School Building Authority seeking funds to renovate Pittsfield High School.
Interim Superintendent Latifah Philips reported that the MSBA's core program statement of interest filing period is open until April 17, if the commission would like to consider it for renovations to PHS. According to MSBA's website, the core program is intended for new construction, addition, and/or renovation projects.
Members recognized that it is a tight schedule to put together an SOI, but agreed it is best to try.
Pittsfield is seeking up to 80 percent reimbursement from the MSBA to rebuild and consolidate John C. Crosby Elementary and Silvio O. Conte Community School on the Crosby property.
The MSBA has invited the district to a feasibility study phase, and a selection committee is working to bring forward applicants for an owner's project manager. This hired consultant oversees a construction or design project in the owner's interest.
Owner's project manager proposals were due on Feb. 18, and Pittsfield received nine proposals. Last Monday, the OPM search committee finalized three selections for public interviews, which were to be held on Friday at City Hall; the selection package is due to the MSBA by March 11.
During last week's School Committee meeting, Phillips said the district is on track to submit for consideration on April 6.
Also during that School Committee meeting, Mayor Peter Marchetti announced that the panel will have the redacted Pittsfield High School investigation report at its next meeting.
"I spoke with our legal counsel this afternoon, and he and I agreed that we should share that the redacted report will be in the hands of the school committee for the March 11 meeting," he reported.
Earlier this year, the School Committee and City Council requested a redacted report of the Pittsfield High School investigation that concluded last spring. Five past and present PHS staff members were investigated for alleged misconduct, and allegations were found to be "unsupported," according to executive summaries released by the former committee.
The request was made by School Committee member Ciara Batory, who has urged the need for transparency since the situation arose. She and Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren both submitted records requests to the state supervisor of records, which were not fulfilled.
Tags: Crosby/Conte project, MSBA, PHS,
