PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With more than four decades in education, Geoffrey Buerger says he’s ready to take his experience from the classroom to the Pittsfield School Committee. Appearing on WTBR’s Morning Drive with Bill Sturgeon, Buerger laid out a candid, experience-driven case for his candidacy.
“My belief is that I can do more good for more people for a longer period by working at this end — at the school committee — than simply being in a classroom,” Buerger said, reflecting on his recent retirement and motivation to run.
Buerger’s career spans 47 years in education, from paraprofessional to teacher, department head, and school principal, including a stint as head of an alternative school in Alaska’s North Slope. His Pittsfield roots are deep — he began his career at John C. Crosby Junior High and has worked at Egremont Elementary and South Junior High [now Herberg Middle School].
He believes his direct experience in Pittsfield’s secondary schools sets him apart in the race. “Secondary school is a different breed of cat than elementary schools,” he said. “Bringing on a slightly new perspective… may be very useful.”
Buerger emphasized three key responsibilities for the school committee: supporting the superintendent, holding district leadership accountable, and serving as “honest brokers” for the many constituencies within the school community. He stressed the importance of backing Superintendent Dr. Latifah Phillips while also maintaining checks and balances. “We’ve got to be the superintendent’s biggest booster… and her bulwark against the political storms that are bound to come with her job,” he said.
One of his top concerns is academic accountability, particularly in the wake of the state’s decision to remove the MCAS exam as a graduation requirement. “I’m concerned that it may be a weapon used against teachers,” Buerger said. “Students have got nothing at stake, but now we are going to judge [teachers] by those student results.” He advocates for clear and enforceable standards for promotion, particularly at the secondary level. “We say to a student, if you don’t pass four of your four core classes, you’re not eligible to come back in the next grade — and mean it,” he said, lamenting inconsistent enforcement of policies.
Buerger also called for strategic planning in light of structural changes, such as the reorganization of middle schools and the need for a new elementary building. “Conte [Community School] and Crosby [Elementary] have done their mile,” he said, “but they’re not the only schools where deferred maintenance is an issue.”
On the issue of mayoral control of the school committee — a subject of debate in the community — Buerger warned against structural changes to the charter. “Be careful what you wish for,” he said. “To put in the city charter that the mayor must be the chair is, I think, a mistake… There are so many calls on the time and attention of the mayor.”
Throughout the interview, Buerger presented himself as an advocate for high standards and realism in education. “There is a difference between meeting someone’s needs… and waving a magic wand and giving a free pass,” he said. “We are graduating students who do not have the skills that the rest of the world expects a high school graduate to have.”
Buerger concluded his appearance by calling for voters to consider the diversity of skills and perspectives needed on the school committee. “As we look forward to meeting the challenges that are coming down the road… I think I would bring a skill set that’s a little unusual, a diverse skill set, and a perspective that may not be one everybody else has.”
Editor’s Note: This article is based on the October 15, 2025 broadcast of WTBR’s “Morning Drive” and was written in part using ChatGPT. To view the entire program, visit https://pittsfieldtv.org/program/?id=54131. WTBR’s “Morning Drive” airs weekdays at 7:30 a.m. on 89.7 FM in Pittsfield and 88.1 in Lee; and is simulcast on Access Pittsfield channel 1301. The full interview is available to view through PCTV Select.
