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Nonprofit staff and board members of Berkshire United Way celebrate at the annual Greylock Society reception.
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Casey Pease, a staff member for state Sen. Paul Mark, presents the Harnetts an official citation from the State Senate in recognition of this honor.

Berkshire United Way Announces Award Recipients, Honors Supporters

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Award recipients Rosemary and Larry Harnett, center, with United Way President Thomas Bernard and board Chair Laurie Gallagher.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — More than 100 guests joined Berkshire United Way at Bousquet Mountain Lodge last week to celebrate the spirit of philanthropy and to honor Rosemary and Larry Harnett, longtime Berkshire United Way supporters, with the Ruth P. and Nicholas Boraski Leaders in Philanthropy Award.
 
The event also announced Berkshire United Way's 2023-2024 grant award recipients. With the support of more than 3,000 donors, Berkshire United Way awarded just more than $1 million in grants to 28 organizations, including five new first-time grant recipients. This investment will enable its partners to serve the community during the funding year from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024.
 
"At Berkshire United Way, our ability to convene, collaborate, and create solutions is our superpower," said Berkshire United Way President and CEO Tom Bernard. "It's how we help bring visibility to community needs and work to create community-based solutions, and it's something we are able to do thanks to our many generous donors and supporters. As Larry Harnett reminded us, it's work we are called to do and to support because so often we can see ourselves in the needs of others."
 
As part of this year's application process, BUW piloted a general operating support model that allowed agencies the option to apply for a grant to support their mission any way they see fit, while still working within one of BUW's three priority areas: early childhood development, positive youth development, or economic prosperity.
 

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Final Summary of PHS Investigation Released

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A School Committee-initiated investigation into allegations of misconduct by Pittsfield High School staff members was unable to conclude that an administrator shared a nude image with students on social media.

On Thursday, the final executive summary was released. It is focused on administrator 2, who is alleged to have shared a photograph of female genitalia on her Snapchat account.

"During this investigation, we sought to determine the validity of allegations about PHS Administrator #2 sharing a photograph of female genitalia with PHS students on her Snapchat account," the 11-page report reads.

"Notwithstanding the information we obtained from persons we interviewed and the documents and materials we reviewed, we are unable to conclude with confidence that on her Snapchat account (or possibly through her other social media accounts), PHS Administrator #2 knowingly or intentionally sent to or knowingly or intentionally shared with minors or students a picture of female genitalia."

The investigation was based largely on second- and third-hand accounts. The report states, "It appears that what has circulated in the community may be a screenshot of a photograph allegedly posted by PHS Administrator #2 on her Snapchat account."

Three administrators and two teachers, past and present, were investigated by Bulkley Richardson and Gelinas LLP for a range of allegations that surfaced or re-surfaced at the end of 2024 after Pittsfield High's former dean of students, Lavante Wiggins was arrested and charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine in Western Massachusetts.

The report states that the Pittsfield Public Schools' investigation into allegations regarding the photograph was complicated by another set of pictures that "confused" the allegations.

"In early March 2023, PHS administrators conducted a preliminary inquiry of two photographs of PHS Administrator #2 wearing a shirt with a low-cut neckline while at her home, which a student related to her through marriage had posted on his own Snapchat account. PPS administrators spoke with PHS Administrator #2 about the photographs but did not consider these photographs as warranting a report to DCF," it reads, explaining that on viewing the photographs, the firm agrees.

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