Pittsfield NH School District

The Pittsfield School District has been awarded a three-year $2,066,151.86 School Improvement Grant (SIG)by the New Hampshire Department of Education.  The grant is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and is focused on raising the achievement of students at Pittsfield Middle High School (PMHS).

Last spring, in response to the grant opportunity, a team of twenty-seven established three specific goals to be achieved during the funding period.  Goals address (1) student achievement, (2) school climate, and (3) college and career readiness of graduates.  To achieve these goals, the district will be using the transformation model, one of four model options provided by the grant program.

The transformation model dictates that schools plan for change in four key areas of school improvement:  (1) developing and increasing teacher and school leader effectiveness, (2) instituting and maintaining comprehensive instructional reform strategies, (3) increasing learning time and creating community-oriented schools, and (4) providing operational flexibility and sustaining support for continuing school improvement.

The opportunity that the SIG provides extends and strongly supports the high school redesign effort that began last fall.  Last year’s preliminary work included an all-day visioning collaboration by students, parents, and faculty members that resulted in a strong desire to see PMHS offer a more personalized educational program for each student.  This vision is also supported by the work of Pittsfield community members who articulated a broader district vision during the 2008-2009 school year. (more…)

Our 2010-2011 school year will see important improvements in our school district as we continue to work to provide a strong educational program that will support the success of the children and youth of Pittsfield.  Highlights include:

• Pittsfield Elementary School (PES) REACH: Our Rigorous Expectations and Academic Challenges will begin in mid-October and provide daily opportunities for intervention and support for students who will benefit from additional literacy and math support as well as enriching opportunities to challenge students with strengths in these areas.
• PES Responsive Classroom: Several teachers received additional training this past summer; this year, we’re hoping to provide for stronger in-school leadership for this successful social skills program by arranging for two in-school coordinators.
• PES Schedule: Students will be dismissed daily at 2:30 p.m. (was 2:25 p.m.) to eliminate the after-school wait time for students taking second bus runs; we’ll now have just one bus run. Also, we’ll schedule an early release day each month and dismissing at 11:30 a.m. (was 12:15 p.m.) to allow for additional staff development and planning time needed for continued school development. (Kydstop, a program offered by our partner, the Concord YMCA, will be offering after-school care for early release days; information will be provided in the opening day packet coming home with students.)
• PES Science and Social Studies Blocks: Longer blocks of time will be provided for science and social studies learning to allow for additional hands-on projects and field work for upper grade students.

(more…)

Please click here for a full article on current and upcoming transitions at Pittsfield Middle High School.

Robert E. Bickford Jr., an experienced school administrator and resident of New Durham, has been appointed by the Pittsfield School Board to serve as principal of Pittsfield Middle High School beginning on July 1, 2010.  Mr. Bickford replaces Interim Principal Rick Gremlitz.

Mr. Bickford currently serves as principal of Nute High School and Nute Middle School in Milton.  Previously, Mr. Bickford had served as assistant principal of Nute as well as assistant director and director of the River Valley Technical Center in Springfield, Vermont.

During his tenure at Nute, Mr. Bickford has provided leadership for the development of course competencies that serve as performance standards for each high school course.  In addition, he has been instrumental in expanding academic options for Nute students through the development of Extended Learning Opportunities that access community resources for learning.

Mr. Bickford’s secondary school teaching experience includes service at Fall Mountain Regional High School in Alstead; Alvirne High School in Hudson; Manchester School of Technology in Manchester; and Limestone High School in Limestone, Maine.  His teaching courses have included agri-science, animal science, agricultural mechanics, landscape, horticulture, and natural resources.

Mr. Bickford holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Mechanization from the University of Maine at Orono and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Keene State College in Keene.  Mr. Bickford also manages his small-scale family farm in New Durham.

As was true last year, the Pittsfield School Board is again challenged to provide a strong educational program for the children and youth of the Pittsfield School District in an economically difficult time.  The Board recognizes that many Pittsfield families are having a tough time coping with the impact of the recession. 

The proposed 2010-2011 budget reflects a decrease of 3+%, or about $300,000, when compared with the current 2009-2010 budget (which was decreased by 1.7% compared with the 2008-2009 budget).  The proposed 2010-2011 operating budget - $9,538,404 - reflects a zero tax impact for Pittsfield taxpayers, without warrant articles.  

Most warrant articles also reflect a zero tax impact for Pittsfield taxpayers.  Proposed warrant articles address the food service program, federal grant programs, the teacher collective bargaining agreement, replacement of the PMHS gym roof, and the reserve fund for costs associated with educating disabled children.

To achieve an operating budget with no local tax impact, the board’s proposed budget has had to accommodate increased costs in a number of key areas, including contributions to the New Hampshire Retirement System (+5%) and health insurance costs (+18.9%).  The impact of these increases was heightened by the estimated reduction of funds from non-tax sources by nearly $150,000. 

The proposed budget also reflects reductions in allocations for books, supplies, and equipment, as well as the elimination of 10+ staff positions, effecting reductions in the teaching, administration, guidance, and the support staff.  The impact of such a reduction will mean larger class sizes and fewer options for high school students.    

Importantly, the district is embarking on a major initiative to redesign the instructional program of our middle high school.  This multi-year project aims to increase student engagement and student achievement.  The proposed 2010-2011 budget includes increased funding for Improvement of Instruction at PMHS, which will be used primarily for the purchase of consultant services to advise on this project.  The district is also hopeful about supplementing the district budget with grant funding for this exciting and important initiative.

Once again, revenues from federal, state, and other non-tax sources will provide funding for more than half of this budget; this includes funding through the state’s Adequacy Grant and Catastrophic Aid, which supports special education placements, among others. 

In addition, entitlement and competitive grants are providing another $941,000 to support Pittsfield’s students in the current year; these grant sources include more than $312,000 in grants through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA/Stimulus).  As always, the district has been aggressive in seeking and winning competitive grants to support the education of Pittsfield’s children and youth.

For several weeks, New Hampshire has been among the states where the Centers for Disease Control is reporting widespread influenza-like illness. In addition, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is tracking school absences around the state. Absences due to flu-like symptoms are increasing and health care providers’ offices are becoming much busier. In short, it is clear that the flu is in our state, that it is spreading, and that more people will probably be affected before it peaks.

Most cases of flu-like illnesses are now due to the H1N1 virus. We don’t know whether the usual “seasonal” flu will arrive later in the fall/winter.

Our Pittsfield school administrators and nurses continue to be in close touch with the New Hampshire DHHS regarding appropriate policies regarding prevention and management of illness in our schools. Public health officials continue to stress the importance of personal hygiene, including frequent hand-washing, coughing into your sleeve, not sharing food or eating utensils, etc.

Although we know of school closings in other states, there are currently no routine recommendations to close schools in New Hampshire because of illness or to keep healthy children home from school. (more…)

Many of us have been following the story of the H1N1 flu pandemic over summer months.  With the re-opening of school on August 26 for the 2009-2010 school year, the children and youth of our community will once again be gathering in large groups, which can cause concern about contagious illnesses.

Parents and community members should be assured that we in the schools are taking steps to reduce the spread of the flu in Pittsfield.  Our priority is to keep our schools open throughout the flu season and to support the continued learning of our students.  We are counting on parents’ help in maintaining a healthy school environment for all.

We are working closely with the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Communicable Disease Control Section to monitor flu conditions and to make decisions about the best steps to take for our students and staff. 

The Department has provided guidance to New Hampshire schools in addressing the impact of the pandemic.  In fact, you will find several informational bulletins on the flu here on our school district website under our News and Events section.  You are encouraged to learn more by accessing these sources.

As you may know, flu can be easily spread from person to person.  We ask parents to help keep our schools functioning as usual by following theses suggestions from our Department of Health and Human Services:

 o Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after coughing or sneezing, before eating, after using a restroom, and as otherwise needed. Adults can set a good example by doing this ourselves. (more…)

New feature for the District Website will include a blog on selected topics by the Superintendent. All comments are moderated to preserve the integrity of the site.

The New Hampshire Department of Education has advised the Pittsfield School District that both Pittsfield Elementary School and Pittsfield Middle High School have been granted “approved” status.  PES has been “approved” through June 2013, and PMHS has been “approved” through June 2011.

A new component to the process for school approval recently initiated is the practice of sending a visiting School Approval Team to schools.  On April 29, 2009, a School Approval Team, consisting of five educators from the Department of Education, visited Pittsfield Middle High School, the first time that such a team has visited one of Pittsfield’s Schools.

In his recent letter of thanks accompanying the Department’s report, Administrator of the Bureau of School Approval and Facility Management Edward R. Murdough observed that “your students and staff made us feel most welcome.  I am sure that you are aware of how wonderful they are.”

Mr. Murdough continued, (more…)

June 19, 2009

The following information has been provided by the State of New Hampshire:

Since the new H1N1 influenza virus began to circulate in New Hampshire in early May, the NH Department of Health and Human Services and the NH Department of Education have been working closely together and updating schools about this virus. The World Health Organization has indicated we are at the start of a 2009 influenza pandemic. This declaration is an indicator of how widespread the transmission of this virus is, not its severity: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/

At this point, we know that:

• Seasonal influenza is commonly seen in schools and daycares every year, but most illnesses occur in the cooler months.
• This year we have a new strain of influenza circulating called H1N1 and it has been shown to disproportionately affect school-aged children and young adults.
• H1N1 influenza causes illness very much like regular seasonal influenza. People who are ill with H1N1 influenza can get fever, chills, cough, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, and sometimes nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
• Most people infected with this new virus have recovered without the need for medical care.
• High risk groups like very young children, pregnant women, the elderly, individuals with underlying medical conditions such as asthma, chronic lung and heart conditions, cancer and diabetes etc should consult with a health care provider if they have signs of influenza.
• H1N1 influenza is circulating in NH communities now.  Cases have occurred across NH in most counties and most cases are not related to travel outside of the state.  Therefore, it is important to take measures to control the spread of infections whether or not a case of H1N1 influenza is identified in your community.
• NH DHHS does not recommend that districts notify all parents each time there is a case, because at this time, one can assume that it is possible to be exposed to H1N1 influenza at school, work, or anywhere else in the community.  
• The best way to stop the spread of H1N1 is good hygiene. Teach your kids, and follow these steps yourself: (more…)