NEW INTERIM SUPT. OF SCHOOLS LATIFAH PHILLIPS WAS FIRED IN 2018 FROM HER POST IN NEW MEXICO’S STATE ED DEPT.; DID PITTSFIELD SCHOOL COMMITTEE KNOW? IF SO, WHY DIDN’T IT SHARE THIS WITH THE PUBLIC?
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY MAY 21, 2025) — Did the Pittsfield school committee know that in March 2018, newly appointed interim school superintendent Latifah Phillips was fired from her job in the New Mexico Public Education Department? THE PLANET certainly did not know until a tipster slipped the word. After a few seconds of poking around, there were the headlines.
If it did know about the termination, some key questions must be asked:
- Why did it not share this information with the public, as the law requires?
- And if this was the case, it clearly means that the SC was again hiding the truth from the public.
- How long can this present SC lineup continue to play its shell game?
- How deeply did the SC question Phillips on her termination?
- Was a transcript kept? If so, will that be made public?
- Were SC members satisfied with her explanation of the firing?
- Did they contact New Mexico officials for corroboration and to hear their side of why they gave Phillips the heave-ho?
If the school committee did not know of Phillips firing, one huge question:
- Why the (bleep) not?
Once more, folks, there’s trouble in paradise.
———- ooo ———-
If the SC did not know, it then calls into question the entire process of selecting the successor to the city’s present superintendent, Jumpin’ Joe Curtis. It would also give pause to the hiring of Phillips over two other finalists, since Curtis leaves behind a “legacy” of corruption, scandal, and secrecy.
And for the record, Phillips is black and female. The other two finalists were white, middle-aged, and male. Another fact is that in her most previous job, Phillips was the “chief equity and engagement officer” for Lowell public schools. Ask yourself: “What on earth does ‘equity and engagement’ actually mean?
From a high position in NM state government, to a DEI post in Lowell, then to Bitchfield, a city hard up and desperate. Phillips’ job jumping reflects downward trajectory that should trouble not just school department employees but city residents and taxpayers.
When THE PLANET did some kicking of the tires in Lowell, we found a link at the city’s website, lowell.k12.ma.us, that supposedly has Phillips’ contract with the city. When you click on the link, however, all you get are blank pages. No text. Nothing.
Here, try it yourself.
Phillips-Latifah contract 2022-2025.pdf, 6.25 MB; (Last Modified on November 20, 2023)
THE PLANET, having covered politics on every level of government for 1/2 a century (1975, Syracuse Post-Standard), is well familiar with tangled webs and deceit. We have what wine tasters call an “educated nose” and, when it comes to politics and politicians, “a refined palate.” This case with Phillips doesn’t pass the smell test.
At minimum, it does resurrect the community’s concern that Phillips is just another DEI hire. THE PLANET, as we wrote earlier, isn’t ready to declare that just yet. We want to see what ACTIONS she will take as new super. We do, however, call upon her to publicly address her New Mexico firing. Maybe she was fired with cause, as they say, or maybe she was a sacrificial offering to the gods by her bosses. Only Latifah can address this.
Until she does, questions will linger and suspicions will grow.
THE PLANET is ready to sit down with her over coffee and talk. We take our black, BTW.
———- ooo ———-
Here is how one NM website reported it when it happened:
NM assistant secretary for Indian education ousted
|
Phillips came to the PED with a packed resume, including chief of staff for the Santa Fe Public Schools district.
She also has taught in Texas and has earned two masters degrees in education, one from the University of Texas, Pan American, and another from Teachers College at Columbia University.
Before coming to New Mexico, she worked at the Philadelphia School District in an administrative post.
It is unclear what led to Phillips’ termination, but it comes at a time when the education department’s relationship with the state’s Native American communities is deteriorating.
A ruling is expected soon on a lawsuit that contends the state education department isn’t meeting its constitutional obligation to provide a sufficient education for all children. The suit’s plaintiffs have cited education outcomes for low-income, Native American and English language learners
And in December 2017 tribal leaders harshly criticized Education Secretary Christopher Ruszkowski for listing Manifest Destiny among the nation’s “fundamental principles of this country” during a speech to charter schools.
New Mexico is home to 23 federally recognized tribes and Native Americans make up roughly 10 percent of the population. Manifest Destiny is viewed through a lens of conquest and a resulting cascade of federal and state laws, regulations and education policies, including the forced removal of generations of indigenous youth to boarding schools.
In her letter, Phillips cited the Manifest Destiny comments — without naming Ruszkowski — as an example of the state’s failure to include indigenous cultures in the education process.
Gov. Susana Martinez also came under criticism earlier this month by Native American lawmakers because she vetoed funding for several Native American projects in the state’s $6 billion budget.
In the letter, Phillips cited the “countless documents resulting from federal and state commissioned studies (that) highlight the glaring failures of our systems and institutions.”
While New Mexico has come a long way “in articulating an Indian education policy guiding the enactment of the Indian Education Act and defining the aspirations for our children, we have fallen short and have a very long way to go,” Phillips wrote
“But I have come to a clarifying realization that what is obvious to you, the continuation of a long history of injustice and inequity, is not always easily understood by others,” she continued in her letter. “This is many times the fundamental challenge of those who understand — through their lived experiences — and generate an outcry in these unfortunate situations. These types of actions create an environment where many dedicated and hardworking Tribal members become subjected to working under difficult circumstances.”
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“The most common way people give up their power is thinking they don’t have any” — Alice Walker.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
Copyright (c) 2025 By Dan Valenti, PLANET VALENTI and EUROPOLIS MANAGEMENT. All rights reserved. The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. Those who leave comments own all the responsibilities that are or can be attached to those comments, be they rhetorical, semantic, or legal. Such commentators remain solely responsible for what they post and shall be and remain solely accountable for their words. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in, but not limited to, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. We serve as a marketplace of ideas, without prejudice and available to all. All users of this site — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else — hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice and their use of/participation in this site. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.
Sounds like a feisty girl. The city needs a disrupter. Maybe she will turn some tables and chairs over.
Sure seems to move around a lot though.
Could very well be. And it isn’t so much that she was fired but that the school committee did not share this information with the public. It’s part of the record and part of what Phillips brings with her as she takes on her new position. It could be that she got ousted in NM because of the “P” word: politics. Perhaps she truly was the victim. The thing is, we don’t know and, again, the SC’s penchant to hide the truth is disturbing.
Dan. do you think that she should be able to read the full unredacted investigation report? I would hope a high level superintendent would be fully aware of everything she is responsible for so that she is not blindsided when it eventually rears its ugly head again. To keep pertinent details from her would seem quite dishonorable and a shitty thing to do. She should insist as a condition for accepting the job, although the position is “interim” suggesting that if she makes waves she will be seeking a new position elsewhere.
By the way, does it seem like the timing of her hiring coincided with the “nobody did nuttin” report being released?
MEAN
Yes. She should be given the full, unredacted report.
For an in camera review-
Come on Dan
You’ve seen this a 100 times.
Sounds like another corrupt child predator,
Googles free .
Funny thing is, Cameron, the only actual educator/administrator of the group, voted her second. He changed it 100% due to peer pressure.
The rest are clueless. Did you see Belair blushing? I’m ashamed her an her husbands names are on the YMCA wall. I hope this is addressed accordingly… I doubt it
Get ready for the exodus of privileged kid school choose to choice out of the district. Who will suffer… the ones they are trying to save
I think all other regional schools are already full to the max with Pittsfield students. No more room. The ones left are trapped but thank God nothing bad ever happens so there is that good note. We can take Camerons honorable word for that. Does not seem like the type to hide anything.
By the way, is Stearns still open?
Sad if true Mean. You can’t help but feel for the kids who want an honest education to get ahead in life. Not immediate clicks on social media during Algebra class.
Thank a GOBSIG for thiis tragedy.
Think about if the Feds hadn’t busted the DEI-hire, PHS Student Dean, LaVonte Wiggins, aka-Da Dancin’, Lady’Z Man, dealing coke, this would NOT have come to light.
Da Dancin’ Dean’s arrest left GOBSIG’s no other choice but to SORT OF reveal the PHS scandal.
What the GOBSIG’s didn’t expect was: Angel Breault, Ciara Batory, and The Planet’s not letting them bury this scandal, has them PANICKED.
I’d like to see how the DEI Law Firm went about contacting the victim’s, victims parents, and all witnesses, in this scandal.
At $375 an hour, they better have a well documented account of trips made to the houses, emails sent, phone calls made, any and all other means used, to try and contact all of the above.
In the legal world, it’s known as “Chain of Custody.”
If it’s not documented, It DIDN’T HAPPEN, correct Counselor Warren? We know you read and post. I’ll await your reply.
I have known many good people who were terminated by their employer. It is a matter of personalities clashing with each other.
I have seen people with nepotism and the like have lucrative positions of employment, too.
The facts are that Pittsfield’s public school district is at rock bottom. I read that close to one dozen candidates are campaigning for Pittsfield School Committee 2025.
I can speak as an employer, the talent pool is vary shallow and it takes a lot to get terminated. Anyone i have ever terminated deserved it, believe you me. If she got fired, she did something bad. Was a chronic no show, stole money or was touching kids. Her New Mexico employer, trying to avoid a lawsuit, probably decided not to disclose the details of her termination and rather issued an “executive summary” for the NM taxpayers consumption.
Why would this come as a surprise to anyone? PPS has a longstanding history of making dysfunctional and nonsensical decisions, and this seems to be just another example in that pattern.
Exactly! The worse the record the better odds.
Was the Mayor aware on this? He sent his staff to advocate for her along with several others in public comment before the vote.
Good question. As usual he, the council prez, the SC, and everyone else among The Suits choose to hide and remain silent.
The is absolutely unacceptable in the light of everything going on in the Bitchfield Pubic Scohol Department.
*How did they miss this?
*Did their DEI law firm perform Latifah’s background investigation?
*Was a background investigation completed?
*If so, did the BSD know and mislead the public?
After reading the Planet, I did a quick search of Latifah Phillips and found the following. It’s a letter she wrote to tribal leaders explaining why she chose termination, rather than resigning.
Latifah Phillips March 26 Letter to Tribal Leaders | DocumentCloud
I’ve been skeptical from day one of Latifah’s hire. It seems like Latifah’s another in a long list of DEI hires, that ultimately end up as failures.
In fairness to Latifah, after reading her letter, I will give her credit for standing up to the governor of NM. She held her ground and as anyone who has worked in the government sector knows, the higher up the boss, the less likely most people are to speak up against him/her. This being the reason: termination.
Isn’t it interesting that THE PLANET has to dig this stuff up and not the “crusading” local daily.
It really is Dan. You, and The Planet, are the only true investigative news source we have in Bitchfield.
You would think this be the Eagle’s lead story, did the PSD or the “leaders” of Bitchfield know about Latifah’s firing in NM?
No, instead we’ll get an Indepth stories about Tricia Farley-Country Buffet (d-illegal aliens) championing the cause of allowing mentally ill boys to play in girls’ sports. Or how illegal aliens can avoid ICE Agents.
Pittsfield’s School Committee steps on more rakes than Sideshow Bob
You might say they are “raking it in” huh? Tens of millions of dollars and $20,000 per child each year. Some colleges are cheaper and they are not level five.
Thank heavens they hired her before this news could break!
On a side, the City bureaucrats have begun to slime Ms Batory. Calling her stupid – first salvo from H.M.S. Benjamin? Insider reporting on her public filing – a ho hum nothingburger. (CB reportsno prior public office which is a very good attribute) Also, second hand and decrepit lefties have been re-mobilized to replace the current ones. That means 1 is expected to lose, probably William, and others are quitting. Running lady shoes and Ms DEI-Reflux to present a fresh face. Reformers beware: these critters will try to mimic your message. You need to identify precisely and concretely what you oppose and what you want to get done and do not try to sweeten it for press appeal. The critters will in the end contradict themselves with BS. You better not.
There is no chance any survives this election if 5 run a coherent campaign targeting overspending, failed education worthy of a class action suit, admin misbehavior and the SC failure to provide leadership by appointing and managing a super. “X epitomizes the failure of this SC to serve parents and children and I shall provide a practical and sensible path to Public Education” is the message.
Draw a map of the city. Mark your calendars with your routes. Ask yourself every day, “Have I talking about the three things that gave ruined Pittsfield education?”
And don’t make friends with the enemy, they won’t love you back.
Good luck Latifa. Do as your told and you got the job.
Dan.we were thinking something? If former mayoral candidate Krol is innocent as he claims and nobody knows? He wasn’t prosecuted.
Why doesn’t he sue the alleged allegations against the non profit person that caused his possible election downfall with her rhetoric and character assasination?
Of course he was innocent. What we saw in that election was a political hit, with hired guns and all. In that election, the final margin, a Lumpy Landslide, could only have happened with (a) a coordinated smear campaign against Lump’s opponent and (b) vote tampering.
He got caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
Chaz? Why a Jon War and Peace presaentation. K I S S
OK. Next time
I’m worried about my fucking tax bill for my elderly aunt who passed away recently because lump Kufflinks demand the highest of taxes on the elderly.
Don’t give a crap about Latifa Cameron or any slug who is eating high off the hog with taxpayer bennies.
Great advice, SIR CHAZ.
And have handouts with the state report saying that the city needed to release the report but then refused to do so. Handouts with copies of local newspaper Opinion pieces criticizing the school committee for not being more transparent.
Printouts of the level five rating of the schools with an explanation of exactly what that means. Information about how many parents have opted their children out of the Pittsfield school system in just the last five years noting that most of them are teachers and school administrators children as well as most children and grandchildren of local politicians who know better than anyone the negatives of their own school system.
Dan,
Why don’t you share with your readers on your termination with the Marians in Stockbridge for sending hate email. I’m sure they would love to know how you really feel about those who are different from you.
This must be the criticism you referred to earlier, which you said that THE PLANET censored. Looks like your facts on that were about as accurate as your hysterical claims here. But thanks anyways! Now take a deep breath and tell yourself, “It’s not as bad as it seems.” And remember from our friends on the cross: “Always look on the bright side of life.”
Pete “Voltron” White is looking at the issue of offensive public comment(s) spoken at the open mic portion of Pittsfield Council meetings.
https://www.iberkshires.com/story/79030/Pittsfield-Mulling-Ways-to-Rein-In-Offensive-Public-Comment.html
As a native of Pittsfield (Massachusetts), I believe that FREE SPEECH is met by RETRIBUTION in Pittsfield politics.
What a coward. Public comment sessions should be as robust, roustabout, and as blistering as people want. It’s their precious three minutes. Voltron the Porkchop is merely following orders, though. You know, the Nuremberg Defense.
Does the free speech include using derogatory terms toward people? The person in question (who is obnoxious every time she speaks) insulted the person who spoke before her as well as a council person, for their sexual preferences.
I look forward to the public comment part of the council meetings. I don’t always agree with what is said. However, most people are able to voice their opinions without insulting others.
DD
Good question. It’s a subjective call. I lean toward allowance. One should allow freedom. At the same time, in such a public forum, we have to rely on people to act accordingly, in context. I do not know the person in question, but it’s a mistake to allow one jerk to ruin it for the 99.999% of the others.
Voltron, your typical leftist authoritarian Dem trying to squash anyone who disagrees with his narrative.
This guy needs to be voted out of office.
Why was my comment earlier deleted? What’s the matter Dan? You can’t take a little criticism? You have angry short man syndrome? You’re like the rest of your people who will say anything behind the computer but will not admit to it when the light shines in your closet.
Huh? What criticism was that, HULK? It didn’t pass these portals. Perhaps the robots got to it first, but checking around the Robot Dump, it bore no trace. I love criticism, when it’s well intentioned and well presented. Wanna resend?
A third of the Students at Taconic recieve special education services. Economically disadvantaged 65 percent. That’s a problem.
What the hell is dizzy talking about at school budget? Ass Side….. Has anyone ever seen stone face Behnke smile?
Does dizzy think she’s going to outfox Kristen Behnke when with ridiculous questions when former council members J Lo and Care Bare were slaughtered by said assistant superintendent Bank-y last time they challenged her. Behnke is worth her weight in gold for the administrative suits. This is a pro Ms Dizz,not some flunky
I found a story on Twitter (X) that will be sure to warm the hearts of the PHS school administrators, Da Dancin’ Dean, tha Bitchfield Scohol Comite, and the MA State Illegal Aliens Rep, Tricia Farley-Country Buffet (d-illegal aliens), a 23-year-old UNVETTED ILLEGAL ALIEN, posed as a 16-year-old juvenile migrant, in order to attend a local high school in Ohio.
It wasn’t until the people he was living with discovered he wasn’t a kid, but an adult man. They then alerted authorities.
**This out to scare every parent who has a child that attends a public school in sanctuary states/cities.
It’s a good thing we live in a place where transparency is key. Mayor Lumpy, CC Prez Wimpy White, or Tha Bitchfield Scohol Departmentt, are 100% honest and above board.
I do have a couple of final questions for Tricia Farley-Country Buffet (d-illegal aliens).
*How many illegal aliens have you taken into your home? If none, why not? You brought them here.
*Being our “elected representative” and the “children’s education champion,” are you ever going to comment on the PHS scandal?
*Or do the “suspects,” not quite fit the narrative that your party has preached to us for the past 4 years, as being evil and corrupt?
https://x.com/CollinRugg/status/1924958351680799184
So let’s give you the current budget presentation by Lumpy and his cohorts. Lumpy presents his fiscal numbers. Kuffkinks fine lines it not unlike Behnke on the school side.
The Scanlons ( bias hired guns) confirms it so it is all on the up and up.
That’s it. Your City Council does nothing. No speakers with any intellect can make concrete statements against it. I will tell you only one thing that citizens should know about future expenses. The sewer water plant is running like shit. Please do not give any thumbs up here Planet.
Her gig is cyber. Probably something in it for her. Probably has a flunky working for her that is the expert.
Recent story about former Pittsfield school teacher Anne Nesbit. Headline was she was a good science teacher. She was more than that. As a former student in her Pittsfield High School chemistry class I attest that she was excellent educator. Not only an outstanding teacher but a superb leader of students who helped them progress to a higher level. I know, because of her help and encouragement I became a college student. It would not have happened without the interest and guidance of Anne Nesbit.
She was a good one, for sure.
Is that the same one who taught 1st grade at Williams? We MUST be thinking of two different Mrs. Nesbits.
There was a Ms. Nesbit at Williams who used to walk around the classroom holding a baseball bat. Same woman?
These days they all need to carry a baseball bat. And a taser.
Isn’t cow Rep a bpnezbit?
Can you imagine how hard it is to get fired from a state department of education job? Pittsfield needs a win badly and should’ve gone with a less risky pick.
Fair point. Typically, without knowing the details of Latifah’s dismissal, you would have to ax murder three nuns, two girl scouts, and a toddler on the statehouse steps. And then there would be a “hearing.”
Leftist MA judge on the side of criminal illegal aliens….
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/05/white-house-responds-massachusetts-judge-protecting-criminal-illegal/
Dan, thank you for exposing this, and as you pointed out, The Boring Broadsheet didn’t. Why? And more importantly, why didn’t the hiring committee know this, or worse yet, did they, and hire her anyway without at least investigating this. Did Latifah disclose all this? Why are us Kapanskis’ learning of this after the fact from your great work and not from the city? And is Latifah actually an employee yet, because if not, the city better get their head out of its arse and investigate. A first grader can do a got darn Google search for Pete’s sake.
I hope that Ciara Batory wins so that the general public may see the full report.
“The state’s public records authority has ordered an ‘in camera’ review of the Pittsfield High report”
By Greg Sukiennik, The Berkshire Eagle, May 21, 2025
PITTSFIELD — The Pittsfield Public Schools and Ciara Batory, in their disagreement over public access to the Pittsfield High School investigation report, both asked the state’s Public Records Division to review the report in private, to determine how much of it should be released to the public.
Last week, the division took both sides up on their suggestion.
The report arrived in Boston by mail on Wednesday, according to Debra O’Malley, a spokeswoman for the Secretary of State’s Office. It arrived with a cover letter asserting that the district is claiming an exemption from the public records law not only as an “unwarranted invasion of personal privacy,” but because they are personnel records.
“The records at issue are investigative reports that were prepared in order to determine if certain current and former employees had engaged in misconduct,” the district said in the cover letter, citing judicial precedent.
“The Courts have found that a balancing test is not required for these types of records. Instead the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has found that public employers can withhold personnel information that is ‘useful in making employment decisions regarding an employee,'” the letter said.
Of the persons who were investigated by the law firm Bulkley, Richardson & Gelinas, two remain current Pittsfield High School employees: Vice Principal Alison Shepard and Dean of Students Molly West. Levante Wiggins and Taverick Roberson are no longer employed by the district, and Robert Barsanti has retired.
Batory, a city resident and school parent, in April asked for a copy of the report, completed by the law firm that conducted the review. The district denied her public record request, claiming privacy-related exemptions under the state’s public records law.
Batory then appealed, and Arthur ordered the district to respond to her within 10 days. That response again asserted the district’s belief, on advice of its legal counsel, that the report — even in redacted form, removing the names of subjects and witnesses — would constitute an “unwarranted” violation of privacy under exemption c.
Batory lodged a second appeal, saying the public’s right to know outweighed the district’s privacy considerations. In that appeal, and in the district’s response, both Batory and the schools suggested an “in camera” review in private, allowing Arthur to decide for herself what portions of the report can and should be made public.
In the meantime, the district has released executive summaries of investigations of the five current and former educators. According to the summaries, most of the allegations were found to be “unsupported.”
berkshireeagle.com/news/central_berkshires/report-public-records-state-review/article_ba0b2504-a067-494a-b635-51b7db835e91.html
Yoke fucked up.
Who will Marchetti choose to be Grand Marshall of the 4th of July parade this year? Gotta be either Cameron or the Wiggy guy. Somebody who has shown excellence and has made a huge contribution to the city of Pittsfield.
How about The Generalismo in full regalia?
Yes. It’s time.
An outstanding choice and since we have so many fake, phony, and fraudulent politicians in this city, past and present, having The General lead the parade, even though not quite a real one, would be the perfect choice!
THE GENERALISSIMO says he would be honored to be the GM.
Someone to just twerk down North Street. No complaining, its cultural and you are fragile for not thinking its beautiful
Hey. If Stooge can be Grand Marshall. Anyone can. I’d like to see the general as the next G M. Maybe the general can get a street sign named after him. By the way Dan. You had a show a few years ago interviewing two young men. One of those young men was dumped on the side of the road.
Smith College honors Dr. Levine’s mental illness…..
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/05/womens-college-massachusetts-awards-honorary-degree-trans-official/
Good one fritz. Thanks.
Ninety percent of the city clowncil is defunct upstairs.
Dan
Your typical, original sin , Tappwrism is again exposed.
Marcy Slaughter, a popular De Vargas Middle School teacher at the center of a book-throwing incident in which she faced a felony charge of child abuse that later was dismissed, will return to the classroom, school officials say.
Santa Fe Public Schools Chief of Staff Latifah Phillips confirmed Thursday evening that the district has rehired Slaughter for the 2015-16 school year.
Queen Latifah , like Rupp ture rectems, and cover up caccaviello- just another in a line of child trafficking predators.
Dan
The article, and lawsuit are easily accessible on Google.
Howed you miss it , Yout Jake is showing.
Planet is fake news, propaganda- pretending to be a journalist!
1:25 5/22/25
Tom
There must way be some kinda way outta here. Said the joker to the thief.
Tom, if you want to be clever, be clever – but use a little skepticism and common sense.
The accusation against Slaughter (gads) sound weak. The choice of Phillips looks calculated to support the administration’s strategy of protection.
The only matter of interest is that Phillips has experience with handling obnoxious personnel incidents
https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/education/sfps-confirms-teacher-in-book-throwing-incident-will-return-to-de-vargas/article_21ce5d7e-1cd4-5639-9327-b5d2640b573f.html
“Marcy Slaughter, a popular De Vargas Middle School teacher at the center of a book-throwing incident in which she faced a felony charge of child abuse that later was dismissed, will return to the classroom, school officials say.
Santa Fe Public Schools Chief of Staff Latifah Phillips confirmed Thursday evening that the district has rehired Slaughter for the 2015-16 school year.
The charge against Slaughter, as well as a misdemeanor filed against the school’s principal, Marc Ducharme, ignited an outcry in the community in April and spurred some resentment between the Santa Fe Police Department and the school district. Educators and others came out in defense of both Slaughter and Ducharme, decrying the criminal charges as unfair. Superintendent Joel Boyd also criticized the police department for moving so quickly to charge his employees when a full investigation had not been completed by district officials.
Slaughter has been on administrative leave since the incident. Ducharme said Thursday he is pleased that she will be coming back.
“She’s a good teacher. She cares about the kids,” he said. “The kids really love her. It’s great to have her back.”
Phillips said district personnel have completed their investigation into the April 30 incident — in which Slaughter allegedly threw paperback books at four eighth-graders — but said she had no further details on the report.
Both Phillips and Ducharme declined to say whether Slaughter faces any disciplinary measures from the district, noting it is a personnel issue.
The trouble started following an afternoon fire drill. Though the final dismissal bell of the day had rung, Slaughter told her students to stay in their seats. However, four of them got up and began walking out. Witnesses told police that Slaughter had hurled between one and three paperbacks at the students. Two of those students were struck by the books, though no one was hurt. Carmen Arrietta, the mother of one girl who was hit, reported the incident to police.
After talking with District Attorney Angela “Spence” Pacheco about the situation, a Santa Fe police officer filed child-abuse charges against Slaughter. Police and prosecutors later charged Ducharme with obstruction for failing to report the incident to law enforcement.
Neither Slaughter, 58, or Ducharme, 49, was arrested.
In late May, Pacheco dismissed the criminal charges against Slaughter and Ducharme, but she ordered Slaughter to attend anger-management counseling.”
https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/central_berkshires/phs-allegations-investigation-legal-bill/article_b21134e2-9275-4071-9908-96dcc5d74e3e.html
Trump had a crypto dinner at the White House where the foriegn donors bought time with Crypto Don to buy favors like the Godfather played by Marlon Brando…its ok to do this under a fascist goverment