Bartz Supporters Launch Online Petition

An online petition asking the Pleasantville Board of Education to "temporarily cease" its search for a new principal following Dawn Bartz's June 18 resignation acceptance, has gathered 114 signatures (some signed, some anonymous) as of Monday afternoon.

The petition, which says it is sponsored by Kathleen and Matthew Hammond, was linked to on a 127-fan Facebook page titled "Supporters of Dawn Bartz."

A number of residents have spoken out on the Facebook page, petition and at recent board meetings regarding the resignation.

Many say they are unhappy with the lack of details from the board and district surrounding the two-year principal's resignation and have asked for her to be reinstated before the start of the 2013-14 academic year.

Bartz herself has also been vocal about her desire to keep the position.

A Facebook user with the name Dawn Bartz wrote on the Facebook page, 

"Thank you for all of your support over the past weeks and for creating this site. My children and I really appreciate all of the kind words and actions you have taken to help us. I feel very blessed to be a part of this community and to raise my children here. Thank you! I look forward to seeing many of you Tuesday evening."

At its last meeting, the Board of Education announced it had begun a search for a new, permanent principal. It has simultaneously also been vetting candidates for a potential interim principal.

The board will next meet tomorrow, where it will begin at 7:30 p.m. with its annual organizational meeting. The board is expected to provide an update regarding the principal search.

For the second consecutive meeting, the board will meet in the middle school multipurpose room after the high school library overflowed the night of Bartz's resignation.

For further reading:

Community Input Part of Pleasantville Principal Search
Pleasantville Board of Ed Eyes New Principal by Aug. 1
Pleasantville BOE Reaffirms Bartz's Resignation
WATCH: Dawn Bartz Speaks After Board Vote