PHS Dean Arrested on Federal Drug Charges

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Pittsfield High School's dean of students has been placed on administrative leave after a federal drug arrest on Wednesday morning.

Lavante Wiggins was one of two city men arrested and charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine in Western Massachusetts. Wiggins was arrested at his East Street home.

Superintendent Joseph Curtis promptly sent a communication to staff and parents addressing the arrest.  He said the district was informed by the U.S. Attorney's Office about the arrest of Wiggins and he has been placed on administrative leave effective immediately.

"Please know that we remain committed to maintaining a safe and supportive environment for our students and staff," he wrote. "We have no other information at this time."

Wiggins, 30, and Theodore Warren, also known as "Monty," 42, both of Pittsfield, were charged with one count each of conspiracy to distribute and possession with intent to distribute cocaine. They were arrested Wednesday morning and released on conditions following an initial appearance in federal court in Springfield in the afternoon.

According to the charging documents, Wiggins operated a drug-trafficking organization that distributed large amounts of cocaine in and around the Pittsfield area. It is alleged that Warren serves as a runner for Wiggins, who allegedly expressed concern that he was under investigation in August and sent Warren to complete sales and deliver cocaine.

"It is alleged that one of Wiggins' customers amassed a debt of more than $34,000 for cocaine that Wiggins provided on credit. It is further alleged that Wiggins and Warren then went about collecting on that debt while continuing to supply large amounts of cocaine to that customer," a press release from the U.S. Attorney's Office reports.

Wiggins had been under investigation since March, according to charging documents. The customer is a co-operating witness who provided investigators with Wiggins' phone number and locations where the alleged criminal activities had occurred, among other detailed information. The witness has open criminal cases and is "hoping to mitigate" their sentence. 

Wiggins, a St. Joseph High School and Endicott College graduate, has worked at PHS since 2021. 

U.S. Attorney Joshua S. Levy and Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge with the FBI's Boston Division made the announcement Wednesday afternoon. Assistance was provided by the Holyoke, Springfield, Chicopee, West Springfield, Easthampton and Pittsfield Police Departments; Berkshire, Hampden and Franklin County Sherriff's Offices; Massachusetts State Police; and the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil L. Desroches, chief of the Springfield Branch Unit, is prosecuting the case.  
 

Pittsfield Schools See 'Very Modest' Chapter 70 Increase

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
06:01AM / Friday, January 30, 2026

The School Committee is expected to vote on a budget in April. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Pittsfield Public Schools will see a "very modest" increase in Chapter 70 funding for fiscal year 2027, and administrators are working to calculate exactly what that will mean. 

Gov. Maura Healey filed a nearly $63 billion budget on Wednesday that increases the city's school funding by $404,000. The Pittsfield schools dropped into a lower Chapter 70 funding category because it has fewer students considered low income. 

This year's expected Chapter 70 aid is just over $68.8 million. In FY26, the district received $68,450,361.

"While the FY27 budget reflects a modest increase over last year's budget, anticipated rising costs such as any current and potential contractual obligations, insurance increases, fuel increases, etc., will result in a budgetary shortfall," Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance Bonnie Howland reported on Wednesday. 

"The foundation budget also reflects that decrease in overall student enrollment, and this shapes the critical next phase of our work." 

In 2024, the discovery of 11 students meeting those income guidelines put the district in the higher funding category and added $2.4 million in Chapter 70 funds to the school budget. 

The district will review prior year spending trends and confirm district priorities before drafting the budget, which is about 80 percent contractual obligations for teachers, aides, administrators, and support staff. Embedded into the process is engagement with staff, the community, and the City Council. 

Interim Superintendent Latifah Phillips said that in some cases, the district may be able to reduce a current vacancy, but in other cases, there will be a significant effort to hire. 

"For example, for core subject classrooms, we have to fill those positions, and so we are taking a look at every position, every role, how it's being utilized to make recommendations for how we will balance this budget," she explained.