Pittsfield High Investigation Extended One Month / Pittsfield.com

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The school district-initiated investigation into alleged misconduct of Pittsfield High School staffers will conclude by the end of April, one month later than expected.

On Wednesday, the School Committee voted to extend the retainer agreement with Bulkley Richardson & Gelinas for investigations of wrongdoing by "certain Pittsfield Public School Employees."

"The investigation is coming to a close, but it may not be finished, and the documents may not be completed by the 31st of March, which was the date for the original retainer," Chair William Cameron said.

"And so, although I do not believe that we will be waiting until April 30 to get these documents based on conversation I had earlier this week with (lead investigator Judge Mary-Lou Rup,) we do, I think, need as a precaution to extend this so that they can complete the work that was contracted for within the time frame that the School Committee has approved."

The state Department of Children and Families has cleared Dean of Students Molly West and Vice Principal Alison Shepard of misconduct claims that surfaced in December.

To accompany the DCF investigation, the Pittsfield Public Schools hired the 100-year-old firm at the end of 2024 based on a recommendation from other attorneys, its tenure, and its experience with institutional investigations of employee wrongdoing. Rup, a retired Superior Court judge, is the lead investigator at a rate of $275 per hour and paralegal services for $110 per hour.

When later asked to clarify the status of West and Shepard, Cameron, via email, stated those were personnel matters handled by the administration. The School Committee is only involved in the independent investigations of "five current or former Pittsfield Public Schools employees ... because of accusations from certain quarters of administrative nonfeasance in the employment of those individuals," he wrote.

The retainer extension was approved without discussion, but at the beginning of the meeting, former city councilor Karen Kalinowsky reignited conversation about PHS students feeling anxious and unsafe about West returning to work.

"I came here today because after watching the School Committee meeting two weeks ago, I had to speak up," Kalinowsky said, adding that she felt the committee belittled students' concerns.

At the meeting on March 12, PHS senior Emma Goetze said she was "appalled, deeply disappointed, and frustrated that an administrator who has been placed on leave, someone who has caused significant discomfort and distress to so many students, has been allowed to return to our building."

"I understand that there is an investigation and acknowledge that this individual was cleared but it feels incredibly unjust to me and to many of my peers that despite everything, this person is being given the opportunity to come back," she said.

Kalinowsky said when she was in the schools as a resource officer, a student reported an assault by a teacher, and after a second incident, the staff member was "finally" let go. She suggested that the administrator in question be taken out of PHS "and put her somewhere else, maybe (the Mercer administration building), you've got a lot of people in that building."

"I'm sorry. You need to take care of these students, how you're doing, and how your apathy went up here is horrible. I worked in these schools. I saw what goes on," she said, adding, "and I'm sorry, just because something's unfounded does not mean it didn't happen."

Kalinowsky concluded by asserting that student voices matter, and if they come to you for help, don't just thank them for coming.

Student representative Elizabeth Klepetar, who was unable to attend the last meeting but watched the recording, thinks the School Committee's response was "a little bit disappointing."

"I think it takes a lot of guts for these kids to come up here and speak what they're feeling, especially when it comes to the safety because when you're going somewhere from 7 (a.m.) to 3 (p.m.) or sometimes we have before school activities or after school activities, you don't want to be scared. You don't want to be afraid," she said.

"We shouldn't have that feeling going into school every day. I have that feeling going into school. All of my friends do. And I think that the reason why we're scared is because there's a lack of communication and when the students are coming up here to talk, I think we have to treat them with respect instead of — well, not that you didn't treat them with respect but just understand that that's a very brave thing for them to do and it is kind of a scary time to be going to school."

School Committee member William Garrity apologized for his comments at the last meeting, where he said he understood the students' anxieties and frustrations, but there was no evidence.

"I'm sorry I failed you students. I'm sorry," he said. "I think I could have been stronger, and I wasn't, and I should have. I think we need to listen to you more. We need to figure out a way to make you all feel safe, and I'm sorry that I've shoved your comments away."