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Parents, teachers press Pittsfield School Committee over alleged staff misconduct; chair seeks independent review
Summary
Multiple public commenters alleged drug‑trafficking and inappropriate staff conduct at Pittsfield schools. The committee cited legal limits on personnel action, pledged to engage an independent law firm to investigate vetting and administrative response, and said the investigation’s product will be public.
Multiple parents and teachers used the public‑comment portion of the Pittsfield School Committee’s Dec. 18 meeting to make serious allegations about district hiring and staff conduct, prompting the committee to announce steps toward an independent review.
Jacqueline Rickey, a parent and current teacher, told the committee that "every student has the right to feel safe at school" and outlined allegations that included a dean accused of trafficking drugs and a vice principal alleged to have had inappropriate relationships with students. Valerie Anderson later said an FBI arrest of a dean for alleged cocaine trafficking and other investigations had left her with "lost all faith in the administration."
Chair Doctor Cameron replied…
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