Please note: Upon further investigation and information sharing, the gun that was found Friday at Herberg Middle School did have a loaded magazine in it, but with no round in the chamber. This correction is meant to clarify and provide the most correct information we can. We apologize for this.
Dear Pittsfield Public School Families:
This is Jake McCandless, Superintendent of the Pittsfield Public Schools.
I am calling to let you know that thanks to quick action by the Herberg Middle School Administration, staff and School Resource Officer Orsi, students at Herberg today were held safely in a shelter in place, as administration and police conducted a locker search to look for a reported weapon.
An empty, small caliber handgun was found in a locker, with a loaded clip of ammunition beside it. Both the weapon and student in whose locker the weapon was found were removed from the building by the Pittsfield Police.
The safety of our students is our primary focus in Pittsfield. We are grateful for the support and partnership of of our elected officials and Police department. We are grateful to our staff and to our students for doing exactly what they are supposed to do in these situations. We are grateful for your partnership in keeping kids safe, and for helping our children reach excellence in education.
As always, if we can be of any assistance, please call or e-mail. We are here to serve.