COUNCIL’s HAND-WRINGING OVER SCHOOL COMMITTEE’S DEVIANCE IN WHITEWASH IS AN INSULT TO TAXPAYERS
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION APRIL 25-7, 2025) — The city council’s hand-wringing over the slooch committee’s refusal to release the report on the investigation into the multiple scandals plaguing Pittsfield High School can be taken with a crumb of Saltines. Moldy Saltines.
Don’t get fooled by councilor displays of outrage. If THE PLANET‘s Right Honorable Good Friends truly were incensed, they would force the committee’s hand.
That ain’t going to happen, not with the present lineup of Profiles in Courage.
It’s both frustrating and funny to watch Dizzy Dina, Dumpster Earl, Conat the Barbarian, Help-Help Me Rhonda, Cow-Plop Kavey, Juicy, and the rest of the “usual gang of idiots” feign outrage with a wailing and gnashing of teeth not heard since the dust covered days of honest government. Remember, it’s always for “The Children.”
Why should Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski believe a word of what any public official says, not just about the PHS/PSD scandal and coverup but about anything?
It’s not a rhetorical question.
———- ooo ———-
This council could DEMAND that the shcolo committee release the entirety of the $365/hr. report, which they can easily do it because councilors hold The Big Stick in the form of the school department budget. The deal is simple: Either the scholo committee follows through with the December promise to make the report public–the REPORT, not an “executive summary” of the report–or we slash your budget. Period. The deal would go through faster than a newsboy’s sale of the “Extra!” announcing the sinking of the Titanic.
What does the esteemed council president Pete White think about all this, that is when he’s not playing pocket pool with his action figure? Voltron the Porkchop’s been pretty silent, although THE PLANET should give him a pass. You see, Voltron’s too busy spending $28 million taxpayer dollars on a new beer tent at Wahconah Park.
And what of Mayor Lumpy? He’s the guy who could instantly end this political pickleball play. He could act as the CEO of the city AND as osoclh committee member. He could be delivering his own “or else” to the socolh committee. As mayor, Lumpy has first crack at the budget. That’s his Big Stick. Probably his only one.
There’s a big “however” biting public officials in the ass, however.
The public doesn’t trust them.
———- ooo ———-
The PHS scandal and its handling have taken the last remaining shreds of the Kapanski’s confidence in their “representatives” and put them in the Vitamix. It’s the most foul-tasting smoothie ever concocted. Can you blame them for not drinking?
———————————-
Taxpayers must keep the heat on. Tell your “reps” you mean business. Issue your own DEMAND, that the full report be made public, with no redactions except to protect the victimized children.
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- First, the multiple scandals break.
- Second, the soolhc committee promises an “independent” investigation with the understanding that the probe’s findings will be fully shared with taxpayers.
- Third, resignations, led by superintendent Jumpin’ Joe Curtis and The Invisible Woman, PHS principal Maggie Esko-Harrington-Schultz-Hypenate.
- Fourth, SC chair Bill Cameron goes back on his word, saying he will keep the report hidden from public view.
- Fifth, feeling the heat generated by THE PLANET and others in on the media “me too,” Cameron and council say they will share an “executive summary” of the report.
Not good enough.
Taxpayers must keep the heat on. Tell them you mean business. Issue your own DEMAND, that the full report be made public, with no redactions except to protect the victimized children.
There’s a budget due by July 1. It’s also an election year for council and PSC.
The Kapanskis have sufficient leverage, but only if they use it.
One good start would be a dual protest. The first would be on the steps of city hall, including speakers who will denounce the whitewash. The second would be at upcoming council and PSC meetings.
Without added pressure, taxpayers will again be screwed.
Have a great weekend, everybody.
____________________________________________________
“The most dangerous person to any government is someone who is honest” — Sir Donald Turpentine, Knight of the Bath.
“OPEN THW WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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Thank you Dan Valenti! You always keep us informed and we would be lost without you!
We greatly appreciate your kind words, HOLLY.
April 24, 2025
Hello blogger Dan Valenti,
I asked my soon to be 17-year-old Emotional Support Animal (ESA) dog named Chocolate why the 2-Pete’s Pittsfield politics uses government secrecy to whitewash the allegations and NDA-like report funded by taxpayers that investigated the city’s Level 5 (failed), Group 11 (impoverished, underclass) Pittsfield public school district.
Chocolate the dog told me that he has a nose that sniffs for the truth. He told me that the blogs, social media and news media outlets are all speaking out publicly to protect the students, while the 2-Pete’s, Bill Cameron, Sara Hathaway, and the like, are all protecting the bureaucracy.
Chocolate the dog also told me that in a little over 2 months from now on July 01st, 2025, the 2-Pete’s Pittsfield politics fiscal year 2026 municipal operating budget will begin by setting new records for municipal spending of the fictional Kapanski’s hard-earned tax dollars in return for….I won’t write it.
I asked my old dog what the fictional Kapanski’s can do between now and July 01st, 2025. Chocolate the dog said that they could request that the 2-Pete’s put a ROOF on municipal spending, but that it would be RUFF.
Best wishes,
Jon Melle and Chocolate the dog
They do as their told or they don’t get the school vote.
With a name like Chocolate, PHS would hire that dog right away to comfort the kids when they are pointing to locations on a doll. No need to check its qualifications,.
Dan, first off, I appreciate you and The Planet keeping the heat on the CC and the Bitchfield Scohol Comitee. They want this story to die in the worse way, but you (and a couple others) help keep it alive and kicking, much to their chagrin.
In a surprising twist in today’s Eagle, even they are demanding the full report be released and not just an “executive summary.”
Of your 5 points above, if public outcry had died down, I believe #3 was going to be the “reason” and “solution” to this issue the scohol comitee had planned to use. Sort of like this:
*Blame all of this on the two that “resigned,” and also the Dancin’ Dean, Lavante Wiggins.
*Make a public statement about “lack of transparency between administrators,” as being the primary reason why it happened in the first place and how they have taken steps to remedy this situation, so it never happens again.
*Changes have been made. *
*Maggie Eskimo-Harrington-Simmons-Hyphenate transferred (quietly) to the Mercer Building in a new $100k superintendent role, for “playing ball,” and not selling out the GOBSIG’s like, Linda “Flat” Tyer-Clairmont, who allegedly knew about her PHS female pedophile administrators and did NOITHING BUT RETURN THEM TO THE SCENE OF THE CRIME.
*Nothing to see here, move along…….Let’s talk instead about the (unneeded) $30,000,000 investment into the Wahconah Ballpark instead.
Our Opinion: PHS report demands true transparency, not shifting goalposts of accountability | Editorials | berkshireeagle.com
RELEASE THE FULL REPORT
Thanks, MARK. And THE PLANET thanks you and our other contributors for your insights and views. Your hypothetical on what would have happened if public outcry had died down is plausible, even likely. Public outrage has not died down, nor should it. THE PLANET’s job in all this is to (a) to provide information (b) to share our opinions based on what we know, what we reason to be, and what we hear from the streets, from our spies, and the like and (c) most important of all, provide a public forum for the free expression of ideas and views, free from retaliation and censorship.
This is how this corrupt system here in Pittsfield rewards those who keep their mouths shut. The former PHS principal is given a high paying job at Mercer school?!? She wasn’t ready to retire. She just wanted out of the firing line of this scandal for her part in it. Linda Tyer too?!?
The rule: Keep your mouth shut and we will take care of you.
Kudos to the Eagle for being on this. Hopefully they will stay on it.
Has the Eagle been reporting on the investigation and trying to get information for the public?
No, I’m sure this was nothing more than a token gesture on their behalf.
I also believe it’s a coordinated effort by Bitchfield GOBSIG’s and the Eagle, to run an op-ed or two, to make it look like they are covering this scandal, in hopes and desperation an outside media doesn’t pick this story up and starts digging in and actually interviewing EVERYONE.
Not just the ones who’ll happily spread the message of “equity and diversity,” as Bitchfield’s greatest strength.
A news channel out of Albany or Springfield has no allegiances to anyone at Bitchfield and they fear this. Can’t control what the public finds out about this.
Why hasn’t any media taken it? It’s much bigger than the usual story about teachers abusing students.
^^^^ See my post above
One of the Albany TV stations is going to cover the first “Live at five” in the Pitt.
A few people with signs protesting PPS Administration/Sochol Committee refusal to come clean on the report release might put a hornets nest in their laps.
I agree Dan. I see the city councils “outrage” as an outrageous charade. It is like they have all gotten together and are going to put on a Broadway worthy play. “You say this and I will come back with that. City council will play highly concerned roles and the school committee will play stupit and tone deaf as usual.” Would not be surprised if they have hired a fixer to correlate all the moves to push the whole thing into the dust bin of public apathy due to chronic frustration.
How about we all get together and withhold our next quarter tax payments until the mayor does his damn job? This authoritarian bent city government needs to be reigned in somehow. Could we have a citizens petition to change the city charter to say that a mayor and city council do their damn jobs as the oath of office dictates? No, we cannot, because they would deny the petition right out of the gate as they do with all others where people want their voices heard. Usually where big situations or expenditures come up you will read in the paper, “the majority of residents want this or that.” But no, you cannot put it on a petition for a vote thank you very much.
Get out if you can.
MEANWHILE
Astute observations. You also hit upon The Suits fondest wish: “public apathy due to frustration.” That’s the formula right there, to dispirit the public so thoroughly that they simple give up, resign from the government they own, and let the crooks do what they want.
Along with the full report, how many hours was the Sochol Committee billed @$365/hour? What budget it it come from? PPS? or the Shitty?
TRAP
Yes. Notably, no one is asking how much Judge Mary Jo’s report and the rest of this mess is costing taxpayers. Not one “representative” is concerned.
A 40 hour week is $14,600!
Great points. Also who picked her and the hourly rates we are being charged? Did they put it out to bid? Did we look into other professionals to investigate? Wondering if their could have been a conflict of interest in this hire.
Should have called State Police when it happened years ago.
Excellent idea. Show the public the report in its entirety or say goodbye to the big raises. I think enough school personnel would start complaining about losing money and put pressure on the school to do the right thing. You’re right to say that if the school administrators get away with this coverup the situation in the schools will deteriorate even further. They are very close to hitting rock bottom now, but it could get worse if they get away with this unbelievable lack of honesty with the public. The councilors need to play hard ball and demand the release of the complete report. If the councilors can’t do that, they all need to be voted out. Same with the school committee. Vote them out for their secrecy around this report. Maybe they do have a lot to hide otherwise what is their problem? The public is only going to think that something terrible is taking place and is being hidden if they continue down this road of secrecy.
Many of us have learned over the many years that most elected and appointed officials to positions of leadership in Bitchfield often turn out to be frauds and the so called, “intellectuals” around and in Bitchfield leadership can be as ignorant as anyone and those that signal their virtue the loudest are
often the most corrupt.
But, but, but, don’t we all look up to Voltron?
My suggestion to the councilors is to give the school committee an ultimatum. Release the full report to the public OR we reduce your budget by a minimum of one million dollars. Money talks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That isn’t gonna happen.
You do know Valentine road and Churchill Street are shit hole roads.
One million? They spend that much on donuts for the teachers lounge.
Sir Chaz may find this news commentary article interesting.
https://fallriverreporter.com/250-years-ago-we-fought-the-british-over-a-2-tax-today-massachusetts-residents-pay-a-31-tax/
Sorry to change subject, too pissed off. Why reconfigure North Street? We can’t even drive down our streets without constant potholes. Let’s focus on repairing streets that need it, not putting lipstick on North Street. My only recommendation is to eliminate the Bike lanes, switching them to Smoking lanes. That way you can get the smoker’s off the sidewalks. In my observation there are more smokers than bikers by 10-1. Let those folks kill themselves in their on lane.
Downtown Pittsfield’s cultural venues rival London, Paris, NYC, and L.A.
The neighborhoods that surround downtown Pittsfield rival Beverly Hills, the Hampton’s, the French Riviera, Nantucket.
The 2-Pete’s Pittsfield politics fiscal year 2026 municipal operating budget will have efficient cost savings for the average residential homeowner.
When I paste wings on pigs, they fly around Pittsfield….
What they are doing to the intersection of North and First streets is an ugly debacle. Worse than Ricky’s Rotary at Dalton Ave.
From a Facebook post:
This letter from the Massachusetts Supervisor of Records, Manza Arthur, is a significant directive in favor of transparency. Here’s a quick breakdown of its implications:
What Just Happened:
• Ciara Batory submitted a public records request for a copy of an investigation report related to Pittsfield High School (likely involving misconduct).
• The Pittsfield Public Schools (PPS) denied the request, citing exemptions under Massachusetts public records law: Exemption (a) (statutory) and Exemption (c) (privacy).
• Ms. Batory appealed the denial.
• The Supervisor of Records reviewed the case (SPR25/1014) and found that:
• The cited statute G. L. c. 214, § 1B (privacy statute) does not qualify for Exemption (a).
• The school’s response under Exemption (c) lacked sufficient detail and failed to justify withholding the report in full.
• The school did not demonstrate that redaction wouldn’t be sufficient to protect privacy.
• The public interest—especially in alleged misconduct involving public officials—may outweigh any privacy concerns.
What’s Next:
• PPS has 10 business days to comply with the directive by:
• Releasing the report (or a redacted version),
• Explaining in detail which parts are exempt and why,
• Providing non-exempt portions,
• Sending a copy of the response to the Supervisor of Records.
Why This Matters:
This ruling is a win for transparency and accountability in public institutions—especially in cases where taxpayer dollars and public trust are involved. It signals that blanket denials of access to investigative reports will not be accepted without a strong, specific legal foundation.
FREE
A small (and perhaps ultimately a huge) win for the Kapanskis. Thank you for sharing!
A private citizen at great effort did what a newspaper with legal backbone would have done and likely reap financial gain and corculation. The Eagle, like the Council, is just posturing in its editorials.
I’m celebrating 25 years without buying a Left Winged Parrot.
I hear it’s so small/thin now not even worth buying to line a cat’s box, you’d need two, and the the cat would refuse to use the box and go outside instead
Question – real one – have we actually met in person?
I believe the final point of “public interest,” is why the Bitchfield Scohol Comite, via the GOBSIG’S, are trying to squash this report.
“Alleged misconduct involving public officials….”
*That statement says it all right there. It has ZERO to do with “protecting the children.”
*It has everything to do with protecting the ones who ignored the fact that juveniles were being allegedly sexually abused by adult administrators, and NOTHING was done about it.
*Those responsible, committed a criminal act, under Mass. General Laws.
*They are Mandatory Reporters of the abuse by law.
General Law – Part I, Title XVII, Chapter 119, Section 51A
As I’ve stated before, the police use non-descriptors in reports often when they don’t want a person’s (juvenile and/or confidential informant) name made public.
Example: Juvenile 1 stated to Juvenile 2, that Mrs. Summers, ABC Principal, sent a picture of her naked goodie basket, to Juvenile 1. Juvenile 2 then showed Juvenile 3 and Juvenile 4, that picture of Miss Summers.
Just from that, we can glean that Mrs. Summers is a pedophile who sent a naked picture of herself to Juvenile 1, who in turn shared it with Juvenile 2…..
Other than Mrs. Summers, we have no idea of the name or sex of the juveniles exposed to the pedophilia.
This is how a true redaction works. It protects the protected parties, not the parties trying to be protected.
RELEASE THE FULL REPORT
Off topic. Did they cancel sweeping streets this year? I haven’t seen any street sweepers.
The city is using all available sweeping equipment to sweep the school fiasco under the rug. Paper shredders and data wipers are currently unavailable as well.
BTW….does anyone know how many schools will be closing if another 2000 kids opt out of the Pittsfield, Mass. school system due to parental concerns over what might be so bad the school committee can not even talk about it?
And are teachers and school administrators still flocking to Pittsfield looking for employment and to be a part of the mystery of what goes on in the shadows of the school system? Do they find it intriguing that they might also be caught up in whatever it might be?
The number of kids leaving the schools might be offset by the number of illegal immigrant children they have been pouring in for the last 4 years.
They have to drain the potholes first.
This district is a disgrace and brushes everything under the rug. Even their highly promoted, level 1 school, Williams, has major issues with bullying this year. Must be all the DEI riff raff moving into southeast pittsfield. Kids have been sent to the hospital numerous times, head injuries, you name it.
Not a peep… just like PHS.
School choice your kids into the homeless shelter if thats your only option at this point.
Homeschool.three hours a day (assume shorter recesses, no time to change and order classrooms, no BS content.)
Whoa what’s this about PHS Principal Maggie being “quietly” transferred to Mercer as a “Supt.?”
She’ll be working under Bishop?!
Wow that’s a bombshell revelation if true. She should be fired along with Bishop!
With those two heading the district – the schools are doomed!
I wish Ciara good luck in getting the information released thru FOIA!
If that’s true, then those involved in the scandal have just greatly added to their numbers. From a legal and liability standpoint, Our Good Friends in the PSD and at Mercer need to be extremely careful at this point. Hints of outside rumbling won’t make them sleep any easier at night. Perhaps a PSD bulk requisition of Sominex (“Safe and restful sleep…sleep…sleep”) through the Bitchfield Soclho Comiteax would be in order.
The roads are shit.
So. As a no parent student less multi generational taxpayer am not allowed to see a full report from this sochol mess. But a school committee member barely out of puberty will see the report ? F off. The city council president should demand it.
Minimum ages for taxpayer dollar offices should be the law of the land.
Massachusetts State House lawmakers are NOT increasing unrestricted local aid in their proposed fiscal year 2026 state budget. That means than local governments will have to increase property taxes and fees to make up the difference to balance their municipal budgets.
https://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/2025/04/27/editorial-house-budget-puts-local-aid-increase-on-hold-for-now/
Off topic but how is Dotties allowed to do construction on the Maplewood side of the building?
Is that not City owned and taxpayer funded sidewalk??
Also did anybody catch Jessica Rufo’s (owner of Dottie’s) posts asking for young girls to pose for photographs for her in exchange for payment, but the payment is actually vouchers for clothing and coffee from her business?
Jessica, that’s not payment. That’s human trafficking.
Children are not allowed to sign contracts. Are parents signing off for photographs.
I’ve seen some of the pictures being taken-in front of Dotties- and they were of scantily clad teenage girls. Par for the Pittsfield course.
Who is the head of health and safety for the schools….What did he know as Joe Curtis best friend and co worker?How is he still working