PITTSFIELD, Mass. —  A third Pittsfield High School staff member has been put on administrative leave — the second one to be investigated by the Department of Children and Families.

In a Thursday communication to the Pittsfield Public Schools community, Superintendent Joseph Curtis said allegations related to the staff member's time at a previous employer, not at PHS. Former Principal Henry Duval has been called in to support the administrative staff during this time.

"The School Committee and I realize how difficult the past week has been for our community," the superintendent wrote.

Last week, PHS Dean Lavante Wiggins was arrested and charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office for allegedly conspiring to traffic large quantities of cocaine. On Friday, a second staff member was put on administrative leave because of an investigation conducted by the state Department of Children and Families.

The second staff member put on leave was not named and their title was not revealed by the district, though they have been widely reported to be the assistant principal. The substance of the investigation also was not disclosed. Thursday's communication did not disclose either the third staff member's name or the nature of the investigation as well.

Additionally, in a civil lawsuit, a PHS student has accused retired English teacher Robert Barsanti of making inappropriate comments to her and to classmates and Pittsfield Public Schools for failing to act. Barsanti apparently retired at the end of the last school year based on a post on the Pittsfield Public Schools' Facebook page.

The lawsuit, first reported by The Berkshire Eagle, was filed in September in U.S. District Court in Springfield.

"In the cases that have emerged over the past week, the school district is cooperating fully with the law enforcement and legal agencies that are taking the lead on these matters. In the case of charges brought against one employee, the FBI and U.S. Attorney's office are handling the investigation," Curtis wrote.

"In the other cases, no charges have been filed, but the Department of Children and Families is working with the State Police to investigate allegations, as required by law. In the three cases, the school district cannot provide any additional information to the public while investigations are ongoing. The employees who are the subjects of these investigations have been placed on administrative leave."