The Pittsfield School Board is organizing a study committee to
review its recently-completed energy audit, study energy
alternatives, and make recommendations regarding long-term energy
issues.
The committee is likely to begin its work in February with a target
of having recommendations by the end of June. An organizational
meeting will be scheduled based on the availability of participants.
If you are interested in participating on this committee, call
Sheila at the SAU 51 office – 435-5526.
Affordable Care Act Information Session
On Tuesday January 21st from 10:00 am to noon, a presentation will
be offered to explain the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) and
how to apply for health insurance through the new heath care
insurance exchange systems. There will be a question and answer
session with a Certified Marketplace Assister and a chance to
schedule appointments to receive individual assistance. The
presentation will take place in the function room of the Pittsfield
Community Center, 74 Main Street. Anyone who does not have health
insurance is encouraged to attend. If you have questions please
call 435-8482.
Skating In Pittsfield
Submitted By Larry Berkson
Clark’s Pond, now the Town Pool, one of Pittsfield’s favorite
skating places in years gone by. Note the large old house on the far
side of the pond which later became the site of the old canning
factory. The building on the left was used as a tanning mill,
fulling mill, lumber operation, and ice house.
After writing an article on the history of skiing in Pittsfield last
winter, several people asked why I had not also written something
about skating. So here goes. Below is what I have gleaned from
newspapers, talking with some of our senior citizens, and my
personal recollections.
One thing for sure, it was a much more popular activity in
yesteryear than it is today. Colonel J. Frank Drake, who was born in
1889, once remarked, “I can’t remember presents ever being anything
but sleds and skates—as you got older you got a new pair of skates.”
The first mention I have found in the newspapers was in 1874.
Several boys were skating on Clark’s Pond, now the town pool, and
broke through the ice. Fortunately, they were able to get out “with
no other injury than a cold bath.” Eddie L. Winslow was not so lucky
in 1882. In November, skating at an unspecified location, he had a
severe accident. Another person ran into him knocking him down
backwards. He was rendered “insensible” for nearly half an hour.
Skating continued on Clark’s Pond for decades. Colonel Drake vividly
recalled receiving skates one Christmas in his youth and rushing to
the pond to try them out. Pearl Osgood, born in 1894, recalled
skating on both Clark’s and White’s Ponds.
Evidently, the river was one of the primary locations for skating
during the 19th Century. In 1875 it was reported that the town’s
boys had great skating on Suncook River at Thanksgiving, “with no
accidents.” Ten years later people were skating there at the end of
November on three inches of ice. There were worries, however. Noting
that 50 boys were skating there one Sunday afternoon, the editor of
The Analecta cautioned, “It would be nothing strange if some
drowning accidents were to happen if such a practice is continued.”
But the practice did continue. Richard Foss recalls that he and the
kids in the Lyford-Leavitt Hill area and those living on the
Corporation often skated on the river just above the dam. Fred
Nutter skated there also. This was in the late 1930s and early
1940s.
By the time of my youth, late 1940s and early 50s, children were
strictly forbidden from skating on the river. It simply was not
safe. The explanation? Colonel Drake offered his opinion in 1974.
“I believe what they say about the world getting warmer. Why, we
were skating by Thanksgiving, certainly by Christmas.”
Robert Moulton once told me that someone froze over the Town Common
at French Circle when he was a boy and ice hockey was played there.
According to him, several members of the Boston Bruins came to watch
a game, for reasons which I now forget, and it was a huge event in
Pittsfield. Unfortunately, I have found nothing about this in my
reading and no one has come forward with any information about it.
Skating on White’s Pond apparently began shortly after it was
developed in 1899. In About 1940 Eleanor (Leduc) Watson and Joan
(Trace) Riel remember a near tragedy there as a youth. Eleanor, her
sister Virginia, two brothers Harrison and Vernon, Bill and Dorothy
Freese, and several other people were skating at the far end of the
pond on Thanksgiving Day. Barbara McGrath, who lived in the old
Tobin’s Nursing Home, entered the ice near the roadway and the guys
began hollering for her to go back because the ice was unsafe. “She
didn’t get far,” Eleanor relates, “before the ice gave way and into
the water she went all the way up to her neck.” There was a shack at
the edge of the water and her brother Vernon broke down the door,
grabbed an ax and chopped off a tree branch. His brother Harrison
used it to help get to Barbara. When he got within 10-12 feet, he,
too, fell through. By using his arms he broke the ice between them
and got to her. Finally, he pushed her out onto the ice where
brother Vernon pulled her to safety. After breaking though again,
Harrison got out. By this time both were very hypothermic, stiff and
cold.
In the meantime, Bill Freese had contacted the fire department and
they arrived to handle the situation from there. Eleanor’s father
John Leduc, a fireman and hearing that she was involved, was the
first on the scene with his pickup truck. Fearing that his two
daughters were too young to place in the back, he put them in the
cab and had Harrison ride in the open air in the back on the way to
their South Main Street home. Barbara apparently missed several days
of school as a result of her mishap.
This writer also remember occasionally skating on White’s Pond
during the 1950s. Generally it was rough skating there but once in a
while it would be perfectly smooth. We would get two or three old
tires, touch them off with gasoline, and build a huge fire which
belched black smoke. We had to skate up-wind so as not to inhale the
dirty stuff. The fire would last all evening, keeping us warm and
providing enough light by which to skate.
Eleanor and Joan also remember that several people skated on a
natural pond behind Mrs. Argue’s house on Concord Hill Road. This
area was located just past Swett Road on the left side and is now a
swamp area behind glass blower Bruce Cobb and Evelyn Robert’s house.
Her recollection is likely stimulated by the fact that trying to
complete one of her graceful moves she fell and broke her nose.
By 1941 an alternative site became popular, Academy Park, now called
Dustin Park. It was “lightly” flooded each night to make the surface
smooth. According to the editor of The Valley Times, it was
“thronged” by young and old people, day and night. Skating, however,
was not permitted on Sundays until 2:00 pm.
In the summer of 1946 school board laid electrical lines to the
tennis courts and installed a number of 18-inch reflector lights,
allowing for night play. During the winter of 1947 the selectmen
flooded the 18,000 square foot courts for skating. The following
year the operation was to be abandoned because there was no
appropriation for it. However, the school board took up the
challenge, believing that the project was so important to the
community that funds could be raised. Some suggested that a
year-round building be erected for use in the summer during rainy
days and in the winter by skaters. Most agreed that this would not
happen but it was thought that a heavy canvas wind-breaker might be
placed around the courts. Others thought that the the pavilion
adjacent to the rink might be closed off for a warm place for
changing skates.
By the end of December so many people were using the courts that
there was a need for temporary rules to be put in place. Rene
Drolet, who was in charge of the rink, and school custodian Irving
Ames as well as other school district employees were authorized to
enforce the rules:
1. No one on the ice without skates
2. No dropping trash on the ice
3. No sleds on the ice
4. No snap-the-whips allowed
5. No hockey sticks allowed
6. No hockey or other games to be played
Later, a meeting was to be held to develop permanent rules. Whether
prohibition of hockey was among them I have not learned. However,
from personal experience I do know that broom hockey was played on
the courts by 1950. One person did have a hockey stick. Art Morse,
Norman Plante, Kenny Purtell, and I were among the players.
Whether a canvas was ever placed around the courts has not been
learned, but the pavilion was closed in with plywood and an old
fashion pot-bellied stove was placed inside. Wood was left outside
and skaters simply started and stoked the fire as needed. Can you
imagine school children doing this today without supervision! The
pavilion was a great place for changing skates and warming up on
very cold days.
In addition to the formal skating rink at Drake Field, throughout
the 1950s and 60s and probably later skating was done at local ponds
all over town. The South Pittsfield neighborhood regularly used the
fire pond at Leavitt’s Mill. Slabs were burned from the mill to keep
warm on cold days. Some even managed to get a few cups of rather
aged cider to warm up the insides.
Frank Volpe had a 6,000 foot skating rink. John Genest remembers
that it was located on Shackford Court next to Frank’s house.
Cindy (Paige) Cook tells of her father flooding the area between her
house and McGrath’s, now the driveway into Rolling Green, for
neighborhood children to skate on. Beginners learned to skate by
holding onto children’s chairs. Later, when the family moved to
South Main Street, now the home of Scott and Arlene Brown, they
skated in the small adjacent pond.
There was a small pond in front off where Joe Rogers now lives. Mary
Briggs and her brother Dave Robinson remember skating there.
According to Mary, Romeo Drolet would check to see if the ice was
safe and sometimes the kids would have a bonfire to keep warm.
Apparently, they did not always have that luxury. “I can just
remember my toes being frozen and hardly being able to walk back
home and when there sat on the radiator to warm them up. But we’d do
it all over again.”
For several years Jim Walker plowed of the river cove in front of
where Bridge View Apartments now stand. I remember a huge crowd of
people there on Saturdays and Sundays.
John Charron remembers that when he was young arrangements were made
for school classes to skate on a pond at his parents’ house on
Mountain Road. They used candles in milk jugs for night skating. It
was usually on the weekends and his mother would serve hot
chocolate.
Gary Jenisch remembers playing hockey on ice across from the garage
on Barnstead Road. This was on cemetery property between where the
Thyng Memorial is now located and the gate to the cemetery.
In 1970 the Town Swimming Pool, formerly the site of Clark’s Pond,
was cleared of snow by Roland Hutchins so that youngsters could
skate there. The Town Recreation Department checked the ice
regularly and everyone was allowed to skate as long as the gate was
open. The area was not supervised.
Apparently, keeping the pool in good condition for winter skating
did not last very long. In 1977 Paul Morency complained bitterly in
an article published in The Suncook Valley Sun that it was not being
maintained. He tried skating there but the conditions were very bad
and he finally gave up. He noted that it was unreasonable to expect
Pittsfield’s youth to travel to Concord or other surrounding towns
to skate. The cost of travel and the charge for skating was
expensive, and the hours were of skating were generally restricted.
He asked around town and found a great deal of support for having a
local program. Several people he talked to made additional
suggestions, such as providing lighting for night skating, and
having special times for playing hockey and allowing figure skating.
What came of this has not been learned
For well over a decade the town has not sponsored a skating rink and
it is a rarity to see large crowds skating in Pittsfield. Indeed,
today, skating seems to be all but a thing of the past.
“Meet Our Members” – Fire Chief Rob Martin
Next up in Pittsfield Fire Department’s “Meet Our Members” series is
Fire Chief Rob Martin. Chief Martin has been recently appointed to
this position and started on December 3, 2013. We would like to
welcome Chief Martin to the department and look forward to working
with him.
Q: How long have you been a firefighter/EMT? Please tell us about
your background.
A: I began my career as a call firefighter in 1983 with the Pembroke
Fire Department. In 1988, I was hired full-time with the Allenstown
Fire Department. Between 2001 and 2011, I moved up the ranks to
Lieutenant, and then to Captain, and then to Deputy Fire Chief. I
was appointed and served as Fire Chief from 2011-2013. The
knowledge I received from the department and the town was the
greatest experience I could have asked for. All my colleagues,
family, and friends have inspired me to be who I am today.
Q: Why did you become a firefighter?
A: I have a long family history in the fire service. My grandfather,
uncles, and my father all served with the Pembroke Fire Department.
My dad use to bring me to the fire station when I was a young boy.
We lived directly behind the fire station and I can remember several
times when my dad jumped up when the alarm bells rang for a call.
It didn’t matter what time of the day it was–he was ready to answer
the call. When I was of age, I was an Explorer briefly with the
Concord Fire Department until Pembroke started the Junior
Firefighter program. I spent many hours and days learning the trade
from some of the best firemen and my dad. I remember leaving school
several times for building and brush fires, being one of the first
ones to arrive at the station and jumping on the tailboard. That’s
right–“tailboard”–buckling in for a ride to the scene. Those were
fun times not too long ago. Every night, I use to go to the station
with my dad to work on equipment, do house chores, or just sit and
listen to the stories the other firemen would share. So, as you can
see, I have a long history of the fire service “brotherhood” and
that is why I chose this profession
Q: What was the best training you attended?
A: Well, there are so many great trainings I have attended. I would
say, the first great training I participated in was Firefighter I
when I was just starting out. Once I received my certification I
was able to fight fire and go into a burning building with my dad.
What a rush! Some of the other trainings that really stick out is
the trip to Texas at the “TEEX” school for the “Enhanced All-Hazards
Incident Management/Unified Command.” This class is for all
disciplines on any field that deals with public safety, school, and
health care. I met people from all around the country and the
networking we did for the week will always be remembered.
Q: What is your vision for the fire department?
A: My vision for the fire department is to treat people the way you
would want people to treat you. I expect people to remember why
they joined the fire department and to keep the “brotherhood” going
by helping one another.
Globe Manufacturing Acquires Falcon Performance Footwear
Manufacturer Continues Commitment To Employees And American-Made
Footwear
Globe Manufacturing Company announced today the recent acquisition
of Falcon Performance Footwear in Auburn, Maine. Effective January
1, 2014, the business will continue as Globe Footwear, LLC.
Falcon has been making boots continuously in Maine for over 50
years. As a Globe sister company, it has manufactured Globe
firefighter boots since 2006. The unique construction of these boots
improves first responder performance and minimizes slips and falls,
a major hazard for firefighters on the fire ground.
“In just seven short years, Globe boots have become a huge success
in the fire service industry because of the expertise and skills of
our employees in Auburn, who we recognize as our greatest asset,”
said Rob Freese, senior vice president of marketing at Globe
Manufacturing Company. “We are proud to continue manufacturing our
boots, as well as our turnout gear, in the USA.”
Significant investments have been made in the capacity to
manufacture American-made footwear through lean manufacturing and
producing components that were previously only available from
offshore suppliers. As Globe Footwear, LLC, all employees at the
factory in Auburn will continue their tradition of innovation,
quality, and manufacturing excellence.
About Globe
Globe is the largest and most trusted manufacturer of
structural firesuits in the world. Over its 127 years, Globe has
been responsible for introducing many of the materials, designs, and
construction methods now taken for granted in personal protective
equipment. Learn more at
www.globeturnoutgear.com.
In Appreciation
Thank you to all who generously supported us with donations this
past year. We were delighted to receive many winter contributions
which allowed us to help needy families and individuals prior to
Christmas. Special thanks to the couple who anonymously surprised
us with a New Year’s gift of several new Men’s Coats and pairs of
boots. Not all can do this but the need in cold weather is, of
course, ongoing so keep us in mind when you are sorting items at
home. Paul Rogers has volunteered to keep his “Coat Drop Box”
available at Jitters Cafe to assist us. May you experience good
health and blessings in 2014.
Beverly and Rene Drolet and The Clothes Closet Staff
A Message From Fuller Oil
January 8, 2014
We at Fred Fuller Oil & Propane Co., Inc. have proudly served the
heating needs in the State of New Hampshire for over two
generations, and we value the relationship we have built and
maintain with our great customers, with the service and competitive
pricing we have always offered through the years.
Recently, due to a combination of extreme weather conditions, a huge
uptake in oil and propane demand, and an overload and temporary
crash of our company wide phone system, we have fallen behind on
deliveries. We apologize to our customers who have been affected.
This is the first such crisis we have experienced in our 45 year
history, and we have called this unfortunate combination of weather,
demand and technology the perfect storm. We are taking all steps
necessary to catch up on deliveries and maintain the standard of
service and customer relations we have always proudly held. We have
added personnel, added hours, added equipment and have been working
with our phone service suppliers to rectify the situation, which has
now been fixed as of late this afternoon, after having been down for
close to six days. We will continue to do all we can.
Because we had experienced some the problems with our telephone
system, with the Governor’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office
and the Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, a
special hotline has been established at 227-0002, for our customers
that might have run out of oil. This hotline will stay in place at
least into Thursday, January 9th while we continue to catch up.
Additionally we have worked with Homeland Security to provide a
back-up cell phone coverage plan for our office staff, which will be
put into place should our land lines crash again.
We are now at the point where we have turned the corner and expect
to be fully back to normal by Friday, January 10th. We greatly
appreciate the input and outreach and help provided by Governor
Hassan and her office, by Attorney General Foster and his, and by
Homeland Security’s Director Plummer and his, in providing
invaluable backup to assist us in completing delivery to our
customers.
Once again, we apologize to those who may have been inconvenienced,
and we thank them for their patience and we understand the
frustration some may have experienced. We thank our loyal customers
throughout the state for their continuing support and patronage, and
we look forward to continuing as the largest private and family
owned heating supplier in the state, and look forward to continuing
to provide the competitive pricing and service our customers have
always expected of us, despite the recent setbacks.
Community Connection January 16th on Restorative Justice
What is Restorative Justice? What does it have to do with Student
Centered Learning? Why is it a good fit for the Pittsfield Middle
High School? Join to learn more and share feedback at the Pittsfield
Listens Community Connection on Thursday January 16th at 6:30 pm at
the Pittsfield Youth Workshop (5 Park St.). There will be a
presentation from students with the Restorative Justice Committee,
followed by small group discussions to hear your feedback which will
inform next steps as students implement Restorative Justice at the
Pittsfield Middle High School.
Restorative Justice was chosen as a focus based on feedback from
participants of the October community dialogue series, A Journey to
Student Centered Learning hosted by Pittsfield Listens. It was also
chosen based on a request from the Restorative Justice Committee to
have more community feedback to help inform their next steps.
Dinner is provided. Childcare available upon request.
RSVP requested to help plan for food. For more information or to
RSVP, contact Molly with Pittsfield Listens at email:
[email protected] or call
312-6980
The Community Connection Series is a monthly meeting hosted by
Pittsfield Listens. Focuses have included educational sessions,
opportunities to learn more and share feedback on the journey to
Student Centered Learning at Pittsfield Middle High Schools,
community dialogues, guest speakers and trainings. To learn more,
visit
pittsfieldlistens.org.
Pittsfield Man Relocates To Ghana, West Africa
To Open A Children’s
Orphanage
In April of 2013, John Michael Stainsby of Pittsfield, NH at the age
of 59, left the comforts of his home and management career to answer
the call of God on his life to establish an orphanage in Ghana, West
Africa. John first received the call from God while on his first
mission trip to Ghana in 2007. It was at that time he was given the
inspiration for Step By Step Children’s Orphanage. A Scripture was
written on his heart, “I will not leave you orphans, I will come to
you.” John 14:18.
In the years that followed, John continued to go on mission trips to
Ghana building the foundation for his eventual move and establishing
relationships with many of the people and organizations he would be
working with to make Step By Step Children’s Orphanage a reality.
When the time came for John to make plans to leave the US in April
of 2013 and start his new life in Ghana, he sold his home with all
his possessions except for a few personal items which were packed in
his car and shipped overseas.
Since arriving in Ghana, John has obtained permanent residency
status, established the orphanage with the Government of Ghana, and
has been pursuing the opening of this first SBS Orphanage. He has
been diligently working on the physical construction of the
facility, which includes receiving funding and procurement of all
the foundational requirements essential to care for the children.
According to John, right now their greatest needs are beds and
furnishings for the inaugural facility and a generator to provide a
reliable power source. [Daily power outages are common in Ghana] As
more children come, the need for reliable power is critical for food
preservation and the safety of the children. This campus will
accommodate 48 children as well as 10 infants.
The three fold purpose for Step By Step Children’s Orphanage is to
give every child they receive, A Home, A Hope, A Future.
You can learn more about John and Step by Step
Worldwide Ministries and Step by Step Children’s Orphanage by
visiting
www.stepbystepworldwide.org or their page
on Facebook.
Pittsfield Police Department Getting Hairy For Charity
Submitted by Officer John Webber
Perhaps by now you’ve heard the phrase, “I ‘mustache’ you a
question, never mind I’ll ‘shave’ it for later.” And if not then you
certainly don’t know that mustaches are all the rage right now.
Taking that trend just a bit further The Pittsfield Police
Department has collectively decided to grow their beards and
mustaches for charity, specifically The Special Olympics.
More than just going without shaving for a day, the officers had to
petition Chief of Police, Robert Wharem, to stray from official
uniformed protocol that states they must not have a beard. While
mustaches are certainly welcome if they stay trimmed, the beards
will be the big deal. (The department members who will be getting
hairy for charity must still follow certain guidelines and look
professional and well groomed.) Members are urging Police Chief
Wharem, who already has a well-groomed ‘stache, to, instead, shave
it for charity.
Department members are required to donate $100.00 each in order to
have the freedom to grow their beards and are requesting donations
from the public as well. Chief Wharem states that, “It’s a big deal
to waive this protocol but the benefit of the charitable
contribution outweighs the ‘no beards’ policy.”
Beginning January 1, 2014 you will begin to see the stubble grow on
Pittsfield’s finest faces as a reminder of your opportunity to
donate to The Special Olympics, a worthwhile cause that helps those
with intellectual disabilities meet their goals, make new friends,
participate in their communities and believe in themselves.
“Shaving it for later” The bearded madness ends on Saturday March 8
when certain officers participating in the “Winni Dip” wear their
warm beards for the last time into the frigid waters of the
Winnipesaukee. Thus far, Sergeant Cain and Officer Webber have
signed up for the plunge and need to raise an additional $150.00 for
their charitable craziness. Checks can be made out to The Pittsfield
Police Association with “Special Olympics” on the memo and brought
into or mailed to The Pittsfield Police Department, PO BOX 98,
Pittsfield, NH.
Watch this paper for pictures, contests and more info on “Getting
Hairy for Charity.” Also, for more info on the Winni Dip; visit
sonh.org.
Local Students Named To KSC Dean’s List
Keene State College has released the Dean’s List for the fall
semester 2013. Among the 1,498 students named to the Dean’s List
are: Samuel Bassett of Northwood, Jennifer Daviault of Gilmanton
Iron Works, Denise Grattage of Pittsfield, Cassandra Horohov of
Center Barnstead, Meghan Jenks of Chichester, Kayla Magan of Epsom,
Evan Merrill of Epsom, and Alissa Toscano of Northwood.
The Dean’s List designation is bestowed to those Keene State College
undergraduates enrolled in a degree program who have completed a
minimum of six credit hours in the semester, receiving no failing or
incomplete grades. A 3.5 or higher grade point average on a 4.0
scale is required to earn the Dean’s List honor.
Sage Open Mic
Sage Wellness Center and Spa will be hosting Open Mic for musicians
Saturday January 25 7:00pm (6:30 musicians).
Open mics provide an opportunity for musicians to gain experience
performing in front of a live audience. Sage is a perfect venue for
those to practice their singing and song writing talents and for the
audience to support them in a relaxed and fun atmosphere.
Open mics have been steadily increasing in popularity
and provide a comfortable place for singers to gain the experience
and practice they need to progress further. This event is open to
any level and is free to the public. Spend an evening listening to
the sweet sounds of several talented singers and songwriters! More
information can be found at SageWellnessCenterAndSpa.com or call
435-7711. Musicians, please sign up with Deb Godin at 620-8690 or
email
[email protected]
Loudon Center Freewill Baptist Church News
Please note our new service time as 9:30 am starting on Sunday,
January 5, 2014.
Saturday, January 18, 2014 please join us for a potluck supper at 6
pm followed by a free concert at 7 pm by the Dump Run Band from
Gilmanton, NH. Please join us with your family and friends for a fun
filled evening for all ages!
Please mark your calendars for Monday January 20, 2014 at 7 pm for a
FREE public presentation on child/teen trafficking. A representative
of LOVE146 will be presenting on this very important topic. This is
happening right here in NH and everybody needs to be made aware.
Please share this date/time with everyone you know, including: law
enforcement, healthcare workers, educators, social workers, etc. A
freewill offering will be collected for LOVE146. Refreshments will
be served. For more information call Rev. Linda Overall at
603.875.5822 or Stephanie Gagne at 603.568.5080. You can also check
out LOVE146 online.
Schools Can’t Do It Alone: The Role Of The
Pittsfield Community And
School In Supporting
Student Centered Learning
Pittsfield Listens hosted two gatherings in October 2013 to bring
people together to learn more about student centered learning,
explore specific initiatives being implemented as part of the
Pittsfield school redesign effort, talk about their impressions and
share input. In the end, over 33 people participated. These
opportunities continue to be one key way for community members to
get informed, respond to changes, and impact next steps.
The feedback from Pittsfield Listens dialogue series
yielded productive exchanges about key issues related to the school
redesign project including community engagement, communication, and
student-centered learning. The following is a summary of themes. To
read the full report, go to
www.pittsfieldlistens.org and click on
Pittsfield
Listens Full Summary Report.
Community & Parent Engagement
• There was a desire expressed for the community to continue to
support the schools and for the schools to continue to support the
community, with a particular interest on engaging parents and
adults.
Improving Channels of Communication and Community Outreach
• It seemed that a key aspect of community engagement in Pittsfield
was determined to be effective communication.
• Though multiple communication strategies were discussed, it
appears that in addition to continued email, website, newspaper and
newsletter approaches, the Pittsfield community values personal
interaction through word of mouth and phone calls.
Perceptions of Changes within the School District
• There was discussion about various initiatives that encourage
student centered learning within the schools including ELOs,
learning studios, competency based learning, restorative justice,
and new technology in the classroom.
• Generally participants in the conversations expressed positive
feedback in what they knew about these initiatives, but also a
desire for more detailed information about the changes taking place
within the schools.
Pride and Excitement
• All participant groups expressed pride and excitement about the
changes occurring within the schools and community, which reiterates
the idea that the Pittsfield community values its children and
educational system.
For more information about Pittsfield Listens, check
out
www.pittsfieldlistens.org or contact
Molly, Community Outreach Coordinator at email:
[email protected] or call
312-6980.
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