Additional Stearns Staffers on Leave Amid 'De-escalation' Allegations

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— Additional Stearns Elementary School staff members have been placed on leave amid allegations of using a bathroom to "de-escalate" students.

On Monday, Principal Sara Luciani notified the school community "as our investigation continues and new information has been obtained, additional paraprofessionals assigned to Room 1 have been placed on administrative leave, effective Friday, March 7, 2025."

The Department of Children and Families and Pittsfield Public Schools are investigating, and the district is reviewing its protocols for de-escalation strategies.

Last week, Superintendent Joseph Curtis reported that on Feb. 26, Luciani received an allegation that Room 7 and Room 1 staff members were using a classroom bathroom in Room 7 as a place for students to de-escalate.

"Principal Luciani investigated immediately and then informed district administrators of this allegation," Curtis wrote.

"Based on the information provided to the district administration, a 51a report was filed immediately with the Department of Children and Families (DCF); the staff members allegedly involved in this practice to correct student behavior were placed on administrative leave on Friday, February 28, 2025."

"We take these allegations with the utmost seriousness and are committed to ensuring a thorough, transparent, and fair investigation," she wrote.

She reported that the administration will be conducting a staff meeting that day to provide a "thorough review" of district protocols regarding de-escalation strategies.

"This meeting is intended for all paraprofessional and teaching staff, ensuring that everyone is well-equipped with the necessary knowledge and best practices to handle challenging situations effectively and maintain a safe and supportive learning environment for all
students," Luciani wrote.

If any parents or students in these rooms have not yet spoken to the district and wish for their child to participate in interviews, contact Christine Macros, director of social emotional
learning and student support, at cmacros@pittsfield.net.

WWII Veteran Reflects on D-Day at VFW Post Induction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
12:25PM / Saturday, June 06, 2026

The members in the picture are Bret Miller, Coast Guard, Desert Storm; Hank Morris, Army, Vietnam; Brad Havill, Navy, Global War on Terror; VFW Post 448 Vice Cmdr. Mark Pompi, Army, Global War on Terrorism, Afghanistan; Post Cmdr. Arnold Perras, Korea; Joe Difillipo, Army, Vietnam; Teri Billington, Navy, Desert Storm; and Carmen Ostrander, Air Force, Afghanistan.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Anthony Salatino Jr. says his memory is getting a little foggy about his time in the Army. 

But he remembers how terrible D-Day was, and feeling lucky he wasn't among those in the initial invasion force 82 years ago. 

 

"One of the most horrible things was in Normandy. We went shortly after D-Day. I got lucky, very lucky on D-Day. We went to a staging area the night before … and at the very end, somebody called, I was in headquarters, they called all the headquarters personnel at the center," the 103-year-old said. "We did not go. There's about 30 of us. The rest of the battalion was gone, and the reason for that was because there was another battalion coming from the States, and they had no headquarters. 

 

"We stayed back, but we did go to Normandy shortly after that, and when we went to Normandy, it was all over."

 

Salatino was attending an induction ceremony on Thursday at the Lt. John N. Truden VFW Post 448. Joseph Texidor, who served in the Army for 17 years with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, was sworn in as the post's newest member. 

 

Salatino served in the Medical Corps and wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, a World War I veteran wounded at Verdun. Salatino was in the Army for about three years.

 

"The whole memory is what I just told you, very, very alive to me," he said. "That is, I can never forget, never forget that."

 

D-Day on June 6, 1944, was the start of Operation Overlord, and the largest invading force to cross the English Channel since 1066. Their goal: to liberate Europe from Nazi Germany.