PHS SCANDAL: THE DEVOLUTION OF A CONTINUING COVERUP
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY APRIL 23, 2025) — When it comes to the school department/PHS scandal, the Pitiful pols of Pissfield, aka the bereft blockheads of Bitchfield, want it both ways. They want to keep the report hidden, and they want the public to stop pressuring them to release it. It’s the opposite of “leadership.”
Take Dumpster Earl Persip. Please. He said that “Students and parents have felt betrayed” by school officials. It’s telling that he left out “taxpayers.” Despite his heroic words about “betrayal,” the Dumpster doesn’t want the report released. He wants a “summary.”
Natch. He’s obediently following the talking points.
This new tactic, the “executive summary,” represents the latest in the evolution of this ongoing coverup.
- Phase 1: PHS’s Dancing Dean is busted on federal drug charges, and multiple PHS staffers are suspended WITH PAY on charges of predatory sexual behavior. The public was never supposed to know. For more than a year, PHS and Mercer administrators kept charges hidden.
- Phase 2: The charges slip out this year. The Suits hold secret panic sessions on what to do. The suggestion that the city involve the district attorney’s office, the state police, and state officials to investigate is rejected. The coverup cannot not risk an honest probe.
- Phase 3: After eschewing a local inquiry, the school committee follows orders to farm it out to a DEI-law firm out of Springfield. They bill it as an “independent investigation.” That’s bureaucratese for: “Nothing to see here, folks.” Whitewash. Cost: $350 an hour. That meter’s been running since December last year. Care to guess at the final cost to taxpayers? The mule between the Order Givers and the school committee? Mayor Lumpy, who’s both the city CEO and an SC member. Two compromised offices, one clear message.
- Phase 4: A report is being written by a retired judge who specializes in legal fiction. The school committee receives another order: KEEP THE FRIGGING REPORT QUIET. That’s either how much of a preposterous coverup has been written OR the report actually details who did what and when. Either way, it’s bad, and they want to keep Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski in the dark.
———- ooo ———-
Two other points–actually, people–stand out for THE PLANET. The first if Principal Hypenate. The second is Mayor Lumpy.
Esko-Harrington plays Sgt. Shultz in this mellerdramer. She “knows nothing! Nothing!” She’s only the principal of PHS. The scandal occurred under her watch, but she’s been noticeably absent from the picture. Principal Hypenate knows THE TRUTH, and The Suits have been worried she might blab. That’s why they “resigned” her effective at the end of the school year.
As for Lumpy, he’s the one dude who could bring this whole thing out in the open. All he has to do is behind the scenes, where everything of import is done in the city, INSIST that the report be released or else. If he has any integrity, he will do that.
Don’t hold your breath. Thus far into his term, Mayor Lumpy has failed in office. He claims to love Pittsfield, but his actions tell all. His “love” for the city is actually hate. This insecure man wants everyone to love him, has a thin skin, and his “daddy issues” ensure another wasted, four years for citizens and taxpayers.
———- ooo ———-
A few final thoughts.
City officials have made much of the Department of Children and Families clearing two PHS administrators of charges. All well and good, but this is a smokescreen. We have no information on how DCF arrived at that conclusion. The public, therefore, has no reason to trust the integrity of that report. Who was interviewed? Who asked the questions? What evidence did they gather? Were transcripts made of the interviews? Were the interviews done under oath? How thorough was the probe? What were the DCF protocols?
Also, THE PLANET should point out that the DCF probe has different criteria than an independent probe by the judiciary, especially if there is suspected criminality.
The public needs to keep the pressure on. Release the full, unreacted report. As for the “executive summary,” the mayor, council, and school committee can shove it where the sun doesn’t shine. For Miss Jane, either end will do.
—————————————————–
The best way to deal with phonies is to be real with them, because they can’t handle truth” — Sir Donald Turpentine, Knight of the Bath.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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Well said Dan.
Elections approaching, of course Persip is making noise about releasing a useless highly redacted summary. BS!
Release the complete findings!
Fire Shepard for posting her privates on social media!
Fire Bishop for not taking action!
Clean house in the next election of school committee members and city councilors.
The Sochol Committee needs ninety more days.
Standard procedures. Let public sentiment die back. Most of the people will have moved on to the next scandal. They may find the need to purposely create one for this high octane debacle which they are making worse by the minute.
Is the Eagle on it or are they tippy toeing the other way?
Dan, who was the last good mayor?
Mayor McCheese 2008
Gaetani
You’re delusional
Jim Reberto
Again. Geatani.
The last good mayor was before the wheel was invented.
The blogs and social media outlets defend the students, while the city elected officials defend the bureaucracy, which is the city’s Level 5 (failed), Group 11 (impoverished, underclass) public school district.
Sara “secrecy” Hathaway said that she read the report and is satisfied by its findings. She was voted out of elected office after one-term as Mayor from 2002 – 2003. I hope that Bill Cameron and the 2-Pete’s are able to withstand her nonsense – the city voters didn’t.
When the 2-Pete’s Pittsfield politics release their fiscal year 2026 operating budget that begins in a little over 2 months on July 01st, 2025, they won’t be taken seriously when they said the predictable spending increases are “for the children”.
JON
That’s why Lumpy, Wimpy, and The Suits do not like those alternate media outlets. They deal in truth.
Ray Haughey, Robert Dillon, Ev Dobelle, Paul Brindle
Gerry Doyle?
Nope. Jerry had the chance to be a good one, but he blew it, primarily with (a) the push for the Civic Authority and (b) the muni health insurance scandal.
Dan, have You forgotten Drunken Doyle’s clandestine deal with GE?
The “free” still toxic superfund site, still dirty river, Silver Lake swept under the fabric rug and covered in sand, toxic Mt Welch/Divillan behind a sochol, PEDA and the Judas money ……….
If memory serves me correctly, former city treasurer Dave Kiley, walked away with a nice (cough, cough), “severance” payout.
“It’s happening” was when the state took receivership of Bitchfield’s finances.
Never had been done before. Wonder why a mayor would drop $50 grand on his finance guy as he left.
And the local newspaper at the time also got $50 grand just for promoting the theme ITS HAPPENING. It’s true.
If memory serves, Doyle’s finance director David Kiley for $45K to leave on his way out the door. Another scandal buried.
Did anyone think the Judge was going to be a viable arbitrator? All of these resignations should tell us what’s really going on. The Supervthe principal?….The city council and mayor currently sitting are shit.
At $350 an hour, “viable” is not a consideration!
Persips an assclown.
In the beginning he was adamant that he wanted it all out in the open. It is almost like an order from on high to clam up came down. Now nobody knows nuttin about anything. They were not even there the day it all happened but in any case, amnesia is a terrible contagious disease and we should be more compassionate with these poor underpaid school committee folk who are only thinking about the kids for gods sake. If there are bad things going on in the schools I would rather my kid did not know about it. Ignorance is bliss ya know.
PPS Sochol students are VERY BLISSFUL!
As I’ve stated before, I believe the former failed mayor, Linda “Flat” Tyer-Clairmont, is being the person shielded from this scandal.
If what’s being said is true, this scandal dates back to at least 2023, which is pre-Lumpy Marchetti’s watch.
It would appear Flat and Co. knew or had reason to believe that two of her PHS adult, female administrators, were having intimate relationships with students (juveniles) they were tasked with THEIR SAFETY AND WELL BEING and then returned them back to PHS, where they (allegedly) REOFFENDED.
**We all know Mayor Lumpy, Wimpy White, and Miss. Plain Jane Hathaway, like to read the Planet, to get a pulse of the community. I wanted to help them out by providing a few links, where other liberal MA cities had a similar academic-pedophilia issue and how they handled it:
Former Mass. teacher accused of raping former student, defends herself in court
Brockton teacher accused of having sex with student, audit reveals
Boston teacher arrested for alleged explicit texting with underage girls – CBS Boston
Former Holyoke teacher Lisa Lavoie pleads guilty to statutory rape charge involving student – masslive.com
RELEASE THE FULL REPORT!!
I agree about the former administration which was in power while much of this all went on. Tyer has to know this situation inside and out. Bet she is praying the full report does not see the light of day.
Not a lengthy article bit an absolutely ten-sticker. Very good and ballsy, but will it do any good? I know a lady on the school committee who has brains and guts to tell us the story. I know a councilor or two with cohunes enough to tell us the full story. Maybe I should say tell us the truth. Will it happen? I hope so. We’ll see.
Will it do any good? Prolly not, AWAY. That said, we heard through a couple of our City Hall spies that certain councilors and Lumpy blame (read “credit”) THE PLANET with the pressure they’re feeling.
The City Council is saying they know nothing about what’s in the report. We are just as much in the dark as the general public they say. The school administrators are doing a giant power play because they think they can get away with it. So far they have, but the mutiny against them is growing by the hour. The schools in this city have way too much power. The public needs to know that PHS isn’t filled with sexual predators and the whole thing is being covered up. The school administrators need to answer to the public about what is going on at PHS by releasing that report. The city councilors say they are putting pressure on the school to release the results of the investigation. Who is telling the truth? The public needs to hold the school administrators and the city council responsible for the lack of transparency.
Ignorance of the report is a shield for accountability, and ‘pressuring’ a summary release is the dodge.
Warren raises a good point: even the redaction is the product of a Scohol Comm-man in a locked office. Covering his ass?Someone else’s? KW wants an independent body handling reporting.
I’d suggest the State Police do it. That’s what your tax dollars pays them for.
Dcf could not investigate if their own private parts where missing. How about the SOR she must be blind or paid off not see or say anyrhing. Any trained police officer would have heard and seen the signs. Dirty Corrupt, Crooked
Great first line, T2.
Don Butler in our lifetime. And probably the only good mayor.
Agreed. Butler would be THE PLANET’s choice for #1. Thanks for correcting our inadvertent omission.
Pittsfield politics is in a CIVIL WAR!
https://www.wamc.org/news/2025-04-23/pittsfield-city-council-blasts-school-committee-over-handling-of-investigation-into-staff-misconduct-backs-petition-demanding-public-release-of-findings
The Clowncil supported a petition by the view girls supporting a confidence vote for the school committee two or so months ago? So where’s the support now ???
No it’s not.
The news article, below, explains that Westfield does everything right when the small city in Western Massachusetts passes its annual operating budget, while Pittsfield does everything wrong, but Pittsfield receives a lot more money for state aid than Westfield.
I call it PERVERSE INCENTIVES. Pittsfield is a GIMME TOWN that shakes down anyone and everyone it can to receive as much state aid funding as possible, while the taxpayers lose to the most corrupt city in human history.
Jon Melle
“[Westfield] Mayor asks for help from City Council to address budget gap”
By Amy Porter- aporter@thereminder.com – The Westfield News – April 22, 2025
WESTFIELD — Mayor Michael McCabe asked the City Council on April 17 for help in addressing a $16 million gap in the fiscal year 2026 budget over last year.
McCabe, who referred to a spreadsheet he had sent the councilors, said some of the cost drivers are outside of the control of the City Council or of the city itself. “Health care costs are 36% higher, which includes costs to the city side of $5.8 million, and inflation rate costs are roughly at $5 million.”
He said in the School Department, contractual obligations have increased by $1.8 million to Units A, B, D and E. There is a transportation increase of $1.3 million and a special education increase of $1.1 million, both of which he said are mandated and “not funded as they are supposed to be.”
On the city side, trash collection and recycling are up by $300,000, and he also expects a utility cost increase of 15 percent or $100,000 across the board, McCabe said.
“The school budget came in at $80 million, with a real budget of $74 million — we cut back $5.2 million. There are 43 positions in those cuts from the School Department,” he said.
McCabe asked for the councilors help for anticipated city budget cuts of $3 million, including $1.5 million in free cash from the engineering department.
“In FY26 there is $1 million work to do on sidewalks — we have a bunch that aren’t in good shape. We lose the sidewalk contract in October, which means their rates are set from now to October,” he said, adding that as soon as October hits, the costs are expected to move from $175 per square yard to $460 per square yard. He said the other half a million in engineering was to complete the work on the Little River Levee.
McCabe then called Proposition 2 ½ “a sticky wicket.”
“It’s always good to lower taxes from the point of view of a politician, but you can actually lower taxes so much it hurts you. Over the last three years of my administration, we have never raised taxes. Last year, we had a net decrease — $3.5 million not used in the budget,” he said.
“Year after year for a decade, we were told the closer the gap to the levy ceiling, the more dangerous. Over the past three years, we’ve seen that gap increase from $4 million to $12.5 million.”
McCabe said the problem with increasing the gap between the levy limit and the levy ceiling to $12.5 million is when he goes to the Statehouse or asks the Legislature for help him understand why Westfield doesn’t get more money in Chapter 90, Chapter 70 and Chapter 74, “They say to me, ‘What’s your gap?’ They’re telling me, you have a $12.5 million gap — that means spend your money — because you have more of your own money that you should have been spending all along.”
“I am suggesting in this budget that we tax 2.5% — that’s $2.2M. I am also suggesting that we spend another 2.5% and reach into that gap, which brings it down to $9.5 million. Then we can ask [the state] for more money,” McCabe said, adding that it drives School Committee member Bo Sullivan “crazy” that Pittsfield, a similar-sized community, gets so much more money than Westfield does.
McCabe also talked about the shortage in revenue for trash services, which he said has been undercharging customers for years. “12,000 residences, all paying $85 a year — nowhere close to the expenses,” he said, which are closer to $265 a year.
He recommended several fixes, including having the department establish an enterprise fund for trash services, making it a revenue account. He said $65 a quarter matches the actual costs. “I don’t think we should keep paying them through taxes.” The City Council recently voted to continue to set the rate for trash services two meetings ago, voting against sending that responsibility to the DPW.
McCabe said local receipts are forecasted to bring in $900,000 in the next fiscal year, and new growth, only $500,000.
McCabe said he will present his budget to the City Council on May 5, after which they will have 45 days to review it. In the meantime, he said he is open to ideas.
After the meeting, Ralph Figy, who chairs the Finance Committee that will be in charge of the budget review for the City Council, said the mayor came to the council to explain how he is going to finance the budget.
“The mayor is open to solutions right now. Once he finalizes the budget, the council cannot add anything to the budget, we can only take away,” Figy said.
“We’re really in a tough spot, and it’s been coming. Every year, we’ve been using free cash to balance the budget, and it catches up on you. Last year, we used $4 million [in free cash] to balance the budget, and another $1 million to set the shift.”
“Taxes have to go up,” Figy said, adding that new growth, anticipated to be $500,000 next year, keeps going down. “He is in a very difficult position. This fiscal crisis has been building over the years. Every time a new business that wants to come into town is not permitted — If you don’t have the commercial basis, it’s going to fall on the taxpayers.”
Figy said the mayor is proposing a 5% increase in taxes, the 2.5% allowed by Proposition 2 ½, and an additional 2.5% from the levy limit, for a total of $4.4 million “We are allowed to tax up to our levy limit,” he said, adding that is how he is proposing to close the gap between income and expenses.
“The state’s not going to help us because of potential revenue we’re not accessing,” Figy said.
“If we don’t want to do the [2.5%], we’re going to have to come up with $2.2 million worth of cuts on top of the cuts that have already been made. That would mean positions. That means people. We’re already cutting 43 out of the School Department, and I have no idea how much we’re cutting on the city side.”
Figy said the mayor is trying to get away from using free cash in the budget, which is what creates the problem. “We’re all in this together. We’ve got to put our heads together and come up with solutions. This isn’t going to go away easily,” he said.
masslive.com/westfieldnews/2025/04/mayor-asks-for-help-from-city-council-to-address-budget-gap.html
Obviously this report tarnishes some very higher ups in the city. Thanks for shinning a light on it Dan as they are praying it dies away as all scandals eventually do.
Marchetti though, will long be tarnished and remembered as the mayor (or one of them) who kept this in the dark. As Doyle has his dark legacy, Marchetti is now putting together the baggage he will take with him as he ages ungracefully. As will each and every member of the school committee become pariahs in their own community as they cower in the shadows reluctant to stand up for the school administration they even now are begging raises from. The irony is nauseating.
CLARABELL
And we shall continue to shine the light. The secrecy and corruption in the city is at new highs. Whatever might have occurred in the previous administration, this is Marchetti’s watch. And White’s. Both are failing badly.
The only this Mayor Fatty cares about is letting everyone know he is gay
Serial killer?
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/04/another-body-found-massachusetts-fuels-speculation-fears-about/
Killing for Fruit Loops
Fake news
My bet: a summary is presented to the Council’s request. There will be a lengthy questioning. Persip will express annoyance that they needed to demand it, express concern for unanswered questions. Dina will “echo” Persips emotions and also express gratitude. Kavey will ask questions that are not quite attached to concerns of child sexual abuse/assault. Plus a good deal of clucking. Rhondanotacosta will speak words but say nothing at all. Conant, wisely will say nothing at all. Why bother? Wrinn could be two ways. 1) he’s had enough of this crowd and will say “this thing, which you call a report, is SICK. just go away. You, Cameron, are sick too.” Or, he will not know what to say because he has not yet had enough of them, and will kick himself as he leaves the building.
They will at end grudgingly accept the report, thank the SC for it, say they hope and expect better in future. KW and PK will speak to need to build protections and guides.
I have not even watched a meeting since I left, but my money’s on the above. Predictable lot. If I were there, a nightmare fantasy, I’d just call it sick, state I need to step out, and not return.
There will be threats to cut the School Budget, but there will be no cuts. It takes a certain something to cross lines out of a budget request. Maybe it’s Faith.
Sara Hathassaway states she has read the report and is content with the results. She has also treated students that tried to speak out very nastily and should be ashamed of herself. So she has seen the report, has all the School Committee seen it? If so, that means Mayor Weakling Marchetti has seen it and has decided to not share it with the City Councilors. Why? What is he trying to cover up? Is he afraid of Cameron? Does Cameron have something on Marchetti? Does Marchetti have enough issues with his own case at Pittsfield Coop so he is running scared?
Who was the police officer involved in the cover-up? Is the same Resource Officer still assigned to PHS or has she been removed? Her Facebook shows she is friends with Shepard, West and Wiggins? Also, isn’t it amazing that Shepard and West have completely erased their years and years of posts on their Facebooks ? The only thing left is pictures of their “loving family”. Why, who told them to do that, their lawyers? Before Shepard dumped her posts on her Facebook there were many comments about her posting her vagina. Did Judge Mary Jo Corrupt see those posts? Why won’t Judge Corrupt speak with AngelnotAngle who has the pictures and comments? Afraid of the truth?
Wiggins seems to have a different color Maserati in his driveway, it must be nice to be paid a great salary to sit home for almost a half a year, even though he has been indicted by the FBI. More of our tax money being wasted.
What about the issues at Stearn’s School, why have we not heard another word about that? How many school personnel are on paid leave due to this issue? Is it alright to lock children in the closet in the schools of Pittsfield? Why has this issue totally disappeared? Who is paying the Berkshire Eagle to not investigate?
Does Marchetti have any idea how much money we are paying Judge Mary Jo Corrupt so far, is anyone keeping a running total? Taxpayers should be told how much of our tax money we are wasting on this one sided investigation. Is this amount of money going to be deducted from the 2026 school committee budget? Flat Tyer was a silent major but Weakling Marchetti is actually worse as he is lying to our faces. Heads need to roll!
M&B
You bring up great questions. They are both necessary and reasonable to ask.
Wrong scohol district being the foremost redaction.
Now for something you’ll really like.