President White called a special meeting of the Pittsfield City Council at 6 p.m. to consider a petition asking the council to join the school committee in calling for an independent investigation into allegations involving Pittsfield High School staff. Councilors voted unanimously to endorse the petition.

The petition, moved by Councilor Serra, expressed solidarity with the school committee and the community while emphasizing the need for a fair, independent and transparent inquiry. The petition does not set the scope of the investigation; President White read guidance from the city attorney noting that personnel discipline and hiring authority rest with the school committee and that criminal and DCF investigations are ongoing.

The public-comment period focused on allegations and on systemic concerns. Valerie Anderson, of 16 Dan Avenue, described multiple investigations by DCF and a criminal matter involving school administrators and said the community needs accountability. Elliot Lovern, a former Pittsfield High student from Dalton, recounted what he described as negligent hiring and lack of support, and urged structural change to protect students.

Other speakers raised related concerns: Paul Gregory and Jacqueline Sykes questioned why a lawsuit filed in September did not prompt earlier public disclosure; Lance Madewell asked what concrete actions the council would propose; and Bethany De Georges urged state-level reforms and pointed to a pending "prevention package" of bills reintroduced in January 2025 to strengthen screening, prevention education and statute-of-limitations reform.

Council debate stressed both limits of the council’s formal authority and the body’s role in amplifying community concern. Several councilors, including Musso, Lampiase, Persipp and Koenig, said they support the school committee’s decision to hire an outside investigator and called for full transparency about the investigator selection and results. Councilors urged victim services (crisis counseling), suggested public-facing updates (a website and hotline), and recommended reviewing hiring practices, Title IX referrals, nondisclosure agreements and the phenomenon known as "passing the trash." The mayor said FBI and DCF investigations were already underway and reiterated his commitment to a complete investigation and accountability where warranted.

By roll call, each councilor recorded a "Yes," and President White announced the vote was unanimous. The council then moved to adjourn.

The immediate procedural outcome is a formal endorsement of the school committee’s decision to engage an external investigator; the school committee — which scheduled a special meeting for Dec. 30 to authorize its chair to negotiate with the Springfield law firm named in the record — will set the investigator’s scope and terms. The council’s endorsement does not itself initiate disciplinary action. Further developments will depend on the results of law enforcement and child-protective investigations and on the independent investigator’s findings.