Berkshire Hills Regional School District violated its policies in connection with allegations against a teacher and the search for a book.
A Pittsfield law firm conducted an independent investigation into the anonymous complaint against a teacher at the W.E.B. Du Bois Regional Middle School.
A custodian alleged he saw a student sitting on the lap of the teacher, and the book, "Gender Queer," by Maia Kobabe on a desk.
A Great Barrington police officer then conducted a search, but did not find the book.
There were no findings of wrongdoing against the teacher, who is still on leave.
District policy mandates public complaints must be made in writing and disregarded if they are anonymous.
Further, book complaints require a signed document. Investigators also found the complaint retaliatory against the district, because the custodian had been previously reprimanded and suspended from duty.
He left the district's employment last week.
(Photo by STEFANI REYNOLDS/AFP via Getty Images)
Photo: STEFANI REYNOLDS / AFP / Getty Images