BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY JUNE 1, 2026) — Let’s chase to the cut, shall we? At its May 27 meeting, the school committee (SC) voted 4-2 to keep the PHS report hidden, out of the public’s prying eyes. The Kapanskis only paid $155K for the con job, so why should they get to see what’s in it and who did what to whom?

THE FOUR: Peter Marchetti, Heather McNiece, Sara Muil, and Dan Elias. THE TWO: Ciara Batory and Carolyn Barry. Kathy Yon — that political, petrified fossil — pulled a no show. She needs to resign effective immediately, since it’s obvious she no longer comprehends the job.

“C” is for coverup. “O” is odoroust. “W” is for wretched. “A” is for arrogant. “R” is for recalcitrant. “D” is for deceitful. Put them together, as what do you have?

C. O. W. A. R. D.

Allow THE PLANET to add an “S” for the singular nature of their plurality. What’s it spell?

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Citizens and taxpayers, obviously, are outraged at the continuing coverup. There’s also the question of how many of the five school department personnel were given six-figure NDA payments, hush money to keep quiet and go away? Is that what’s behind Marchetti’s comments that the United Educators-Mass. Teachers Association and one of the five have sent letters of intent regarding lawsuits should the PHS report be made public.

The best response is a preemptive lawsuit filed on behalf of taxpayers and parents, demanding immediate release of the UNREDACTED report. Such an action may be in the works, but don’t say anything, because no one’s supposed to know.

Here’s a sampling of public comments on the school committee’s timorous action:

That’s the overwhelming sentiment of taxpayers we talk to, and they are plenty.

The meeting itself featured many highlights. Among them:

• Dan “Wiggy” Elias’s wig, which sits as a point of order on our friend’s head. “That’s how democracy works” (actual quote from the wig).
•  Sara “20-Muil Team.” whispering into her microphone, her voice defensively doing the limbo. Maybe she was calling an audible.
• Batory, setting a record for cleavage shown by a female official during during a meeting,  loves the word “awesome.”
• Heather “Little Miss McMuffet” McNiece, whose first words after replacing Marchetti as chair, were: “I’m not sure where we are.” It was the most truthful statement of the entire session.
• Later, Little Miss McMuffet, from the chair, said, “This meeting does not feel safe.” She called for “lowering the temperature of the room,” something she says at every meeting. THE PLANET wonders who controls the thermostat in her home?
• Marchetti, after surrendering the chair, slammed Batory for “this continuing witch-hunt about things that I’ve done wrong.” Witch-hunt. That’s the word he used. Think about it.
• Queen Latifah, school super, looks like she’s put on 40 pounds since taking the job. Obviously, it agrees with her.

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A mere couple of days after the vote, Heidi Riello wrote a letter that the alleged local daily “newspaper” eagerly published, in which she slammed Batory. THE PLANET thanks our good friend Jon Melle for bringing the letter to our attention. Here it is in full:

Letter: “I take issue with Pittsfield School Committee member’s conduct”
The Berkshire Eagle, May 30, 2026

To the editor: I write as a member of the Pittsfield community to express serious concern regarding the conduct of School Committee member Ciara Batory. 

In my view, her behavior demonstrates a troubling lack of understanding of the role and responsibilities of a School Committee member. These concerns include repeated difficulty following basic standards of decorum, ineffective and confrontational communication with colleagues and a tendency to frame criticism as personal attacks rather than engaging in productive dialogue. Her frequent use of the term “transparency” often seems more performative than substantive, raising questions about whether she fully understands the meaning and purpose of transparent governance.

Ms. Batory repeatedly claims to speak on behalf of “the public,” a characterization I strongly reject. In fact, she received 2,388 votes — the second-fewest among the six elected School Committee members — representing only a fraction of Pittsfield voters. This does not justify presenting herself as the singular voice of the community.

As a clinical social worker with 26 years of professional experience, I find Ms. Batory’s behavior concerning and erratic. She appears more focused on cultivating attention through social media engagement than on thoughtfully addressing the complex needs of the district and its students. Too often, her public conduct feels contrived rather than solution-oriented.

Additionally, Ms. Batory frequently appears to rely on scripted talking points while demonstrating limited understanding of the broader issues facing the district. At a time when Pittsfield Public Schools should be focused on supporting students, families, teachers and staff through the closure of Morningside Community School, the restructuring of middle schools and implementation of an equity-based budget, Ms. Batory seems singularly fixated on the Pittsfield High School report, despite the significant distraction and division it continues to create. Those who take the time to speak directly with students hear many of them express concern that releasing the report publicly could cause more harm than good. This raises an important question: Whom exactly is she advocating for, the broader community and students or a loud minority of online supporters?

Finally, Ms. Batory frequently speaks against equity-based initiatives while simultaneously claiming to support fairness and inclusion. Her comments suggest a misunderstanding of what educational equity actually means and why it matters in a public school system serving students with diverse needs and experiences.

Pittsfield deserves School Committee members who lead with professionalism, collaboration, informed decision-making and a genuine commitment to students above personal agendas or public attention.

Heidi Riello, Pittsfield

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Two of THE PLANET‘s most insightful commentators point out that with her letter, Heidi unwittingly hoisted herself up on her own petard. Talk about rebounds!

Markus Aurelius:

Not sure how many of you Planeters have Facebook, but if you do, take a look at Sara Auge’s post agreeing with Heidi Riello and her attack on Ciara Batory in the Eagle.

Sara is Heather McNiece’s sister BTW.

Not so much about Sara’s post, but the comments are gold.

This scandal is not going away. Sara even uses the “teachers union threatened to sue,” as a reason not to release the report.

Ciara should start a GoFundMe and accept their challenge and sue them for the release. One comment mentioned a few people allegedly named in the pedophile report got six-figure NDA settlements as golden parachutes.

Not sure if that’s true, but if it is, it tells me they were going to blow (no pun) the lid on everything-including the cover up (looking at you Flat). You don’t pay people off, unless….

Outfox:

Heidi Riello is the school adjustment counselor at PPS, so that explains her anti Ciara letter.
Remember, the two most dangerous people in the room is the person with nothing to lose and the person with everything to lose.
What does Heidi know, and when did she know it?
She is a mandated reporter.
Hmm…..
Parents of students, and students who were adjusted by Heidi need to come together and go public
Kind of sucks when your hit piece backfires and puts the spotlight on your role in the scandal. Such a meaningful word in Massachusetts journalism, spotlight.
Heidi, we don’t need Boston reporters when we have Dan and all of us Planeteers.
The biggest red flag for me is that she is calling out generation tech for using the most widely used form of communication in the 21st century, social media.
Time to age out of the system, Heidi. Take that early retirement before you cost us even more money.
Dan, the Planet needs a new award: The Desperate Housewife award. ( Does not have to be awarded to people who identify as female)

THE PLANET thanks everyone who has kept the issue of the PHS report on the front burner.

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“Why and how would a city hire child predators as school administrators? Think about it” — Sir Donald Turpentine, Knight of the Bath.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

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