PITTSFIELD, Mass. — When faced with a possible security threat, the Pittsfield Public Schools' first priority is to ensure staff and students are safe. 

Then, the goal is to provide families with timely and accurate updates and a sufficient explanation once the incident has passed.

That's what Superintendent Joseph Curtis told a joint meeting of the School Committee and City Council last week, as he reviewed the district's emergency response communication to families.

"It's incredibly important that we first, when we have an incident, be it small or something larger, before we communicate with our community, including our parents, we ensure that all staff and students are safe," he said.

"It's very important to know we don't have a communication department. There is no one that takes the lead on communicating with our families. It is us."

The presentation referenced a September incident that caused Pittsfield schools to shelter in place.  The Pittsfield Police Department was pursuing a man wanted for murder in the state of Maine and because of Taconic High School's proximity to the chase, it was locked down.

Ward 1 Councilor Kenneth Warren pointed out that the agenda item was influenced by a "very well articulated" email from a student. Curtis and Mayor Peter Marchetti met with the student to discuss her concerns.

School Committee member Sara Hathaway was touched by the communication, as "she described herself as being terrified and that was horrifying, of course."  

"This is a bigger problem than Pittsfield can solve. School Violence and urban violence in general are big problems across the country," Hathaway said, pointing to a safe gun storage resolution that was passed last year.