'An Abomination': Parents, Residents React to PHS Staff Scandal
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PITTSFIELD, Mass.— "Disgusting," an "abomination," and warranting a "clean house."
This is what angry community members said after two Pittsfield High School staff were put on administrative leave in the last week, one for federal drug charges and the other for an investigation by the Department of Children and Families.
Superintendent Joseph Curtis addressed claims that the district was aware of illegal activity at the school, asserting "I am embarrassed and I am livid."
"When I started getting the text messages at virtually the same time, I was immediately outraged," he said at Wednesday's School Committee meeting.
"Now I will say I've not slept and I'm not quite myself but if anyone thinks these allegations are true, that I'm OK with that as a parent of this school district who's put three boys through Morningside, Reid, and Taconic High School, that I am OK with that or I would dare ignore that, then you do not know me. You have not taken the time to know my values, personally or professionally."
Last week, PHS Dean Lavante Wiggins was arrested and charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine. On Friday, a second staff member was put on administrative leave because of an investigation conducted by the state Department of Children and Families.
The second staff member put on leave was not named and their title not revealed, though they have been widely reported to be the assistant principal, nor was the source of the investigation.
"This very difficult time but I will say that there's no question in my mind that we will get past this because of the community that we have built," student representative Elizabeth Klepetar said. "And I dedicate that entirely to the teachers who tirelessly support us every single day."
Jackie Ricci said as a parent, teacher, and graduate of Pittsfield Public Schools, she is "deeply concerned" about the short and long-term future of the district and most importantly, the safety and well-being of students.
"Recently, shocking events have come to light. A dean of students accused of trafficking drugs and a vice principal alleged to have engaged in an inappropriate relationship with students," she said.
"These horrifying incidents are not isolated. Rumors persist about other staff on similar paths and as a parent and teacher, I am furious. An entire school community has been endangered by unqualified and improperly trained administrators."
The Berkshire Eagle on Wednesday reported that a recently retired teacher is the subject of a federal complaint for sexual harassment of a PHS student.
Valerie Anderson said her two children had a positive experience at PHS a decade ago but if they enrolled in the school today, she would pull them out "in a minute because it appears that this school and maybe the whole district is out of control and totally mismanaged."
"It's disgusting, embarrassing, and outrageous that we recently find the dean of students arrested by the FBI for major cocaine trafficking," she said.
"The vice principal of Pittsfield High is being investigated for alleged inappropriate sexual activity with students and a former teacher of deportment is also investigated by DCF. What's going on?"
Anderson said this is an "abomination at all levels of the Pittsfield Public Schools."
"Maybe the state should take over the Pittsfield Public Schools. I've lost all faith in the administration."
Resident Paul Gregory said the question to ask is, "Who didn't know?" not "Who knew?" He feels that regardless of the current investigation, "it is clear that this was a failure by the Pittsfield Public Schools."
"Why didn't we know when it is being discovered that some of the most relevant information and facts had been known by many for some time now," he said.
"Are we to believe that in the high school atmosphere principals, vice principals, deans, SACs, and guidance staff do not interact and share information with each other?"
He wondered if the public would even be having these conversations if the alleged drug dealing was not a federal case.
"This is the time to demonstrate an educational term, some grit, some determination, and focus to do the right thing," Gregory said.
"It is times like these when the character of a person and the functioning capacity of a board is revealed. This is a time to reinforce the safeguards of our schools, to protect our youth, our students, and remind us that we can come together as a community and support one another. We are counting on you as a school committee to lead this effort to do whatever it takes to restore our faith in the Pittsfield Public Schools and to restore our faith in you."
Jacquelyn Sykes, who has two children in the district, said these allegations are the "tip of the iceberg." She hopes that the school "cleans house," saying parents and children knew about the activity and she doesn't know how school officials didn't, adding "It's disgusting."
"Clearly, your vetting of staff and background checks are not enough. I would love to know what's going to change," she said.
"This has been covered up for far too long and enough is enough. Pittsfield will never evolve or thrive as long as people in positions of power are not held accountable, especially when it goes against crimes against our children."
Mayor Peter Marchetti said he has not been able to sleep because of the situation.
"I don't want to sit here and defend the fact that I had no clue. You can believe me or you don't believe me. I had no clue," he said.
He acknowledged that the school community is hurting, afraid, and in need of help. He pledged to take care of them today and when the investigation comes back, take action to hold folks accountable.
"So my pledge is two things. I think if you've listened to me or watched me, I have concerns about the hiring process so I think our recommendations and where we're going is a step in the right direction," Marchetti said.
"I pledge that we will hold everyone accountable along the way when we get a fair investigation back from DCF and the FBI but right now, I want to turn away from the investigation for a moment and spend some time thinking about the students and the teachers, first at Pittsfield High School but then secondly across the district."
Chair William Cameron was "deeply troubled" by allegations that "everyone knew" what was going on.
"Every member of the Pittsfield teachers union and every member of the staff of the schools is a mandated reporter," he said.
"If this has been going on for years and it's been known to staff members and no mandated reports were filed. We've got more problems than you're describing."
To maintain confidence that the School Committee and the administration are acting properly and in good faith, he said it is best that a third-party law firm is brought on board to investigate the administrative response to the alleged misconduct, the procedures for vetting potential employees, and how to improve district practices for such situations if they arise in the future.
"I know we all want the answers now. I want the answers now but we live in a system with due process under the U.S. Constitution and I remember everything coming down Wednesday of last week and everything this week," committee member William Garrity said.
"It's disheartening, it's troubling but we have to wait for the investigation. I feel for all the students at Pittsfield High School right now. I think, as the mayor said, that should be our main focus right now, supporting those students, supporting all of our students, especially right before the holiday season."
Correction: the wrong facility was given in relation to an employee under DCF investigation in an earlier version of this story. The employee works for the Berkshire Family YMCA and was put on administrative leave last week according to a post by the Y.
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