Schools

Pleasantville Board of Ed Eyes New Principal by Aug. 1

As the board sets an ambitious timeline to find a new permanent or interim high school principal, Dawn Bartz says she isn't ready to leave the district yet.

Despite the Board of Education's week-old vote to accept an agreement calling for the resignation of two-year high school Principal Dawn Bartz, the village resident said she isn't ready to give up on her job just yet.

"I love the school, I love the district. I think we moved the high school forward tremendously in two years," Bartz told Patch at Tuesday's board meeting. "Quite frankly, I don't want to leave and I don't think there is any reason for me to."

But the district has already posted the principal position on olasjobs.org (On-line Application System), as well as internally in Pleasantville, and is eyeing a swift turnaround.

Despite this, Bartz is quick to display a copy of a May 23 letter she received from Superintendent Mary Fox-Alter inviting her to serve as a "principle evaluator for APPR at Pleasantville High School for the 2013-2014 school year."

The administrator said she has reached out to the Board of Education multiple times to request her resignation be rejected or last week's vote be reconsidered, to no avail.

She considers the acceptance of her resignation, paired with Fox-Alter's invitation to return in a different capacity, "confusing."

Both Board President Lois Winkler and Fox-Alter, each reading prepared statements at the start of Tuesday's meeting, acknowledged the "emotional" reaction from residents with regard to Bartz's resignation, effective July 31, and encouraged the community to "move forward."

Click the above videos to view clips from their statements.

As part of the transition, Gregg Fonde (currently the high school's assistant principal) will be delaying his move to the middle school, where he plans on eventually assuming the role of assistant principal.

In its preliminary discussions, the board outlined several ideas for the process and qualifications Bartz's replacement should have.

"I do not personally want to have an interim principal," asserted Board Vice President Shane McGaffey. "I don't want to lose another year."

Winkler added, "My ideal would be to have somebody there September 1 or when the doors open in the fall."

This would mean having a hire approved by August 1, the board later discussed; a move many community members said would be nearly impossible.

Fox-Alter agreed the notion is "ambitious," but board members continued to reiterate they wouldn't hire someone just to meet such a deadline.

Peter McAndrew, in addressing the board, stated, "I clearly think you have to hire an interim [principal]. "

Joe Wallace agreed "it's very likely it's going to be an interim" and asked the board about the process for vetting candidates.

Fox-Alter explained that many interim administrators "are retired from the State of New York," noting the district had multiple candidates to choose from before appointing Dr. Robert Hendrickson three years ago to fill for a year-long stint in after firing Anthony Rotunno a day into his job.

McGaffey also proposed the idea of keeping the process confidential, without any direct input in the process by community or staff members in order to attract highly qualified candidates. When Bartz was appointed two years ago, the hiring process included a public Q&A in which she and a second candidate were introduced to the community.

But McGaffey and other board members said they want an experienced high school principal at the helm come September. The final two candidates in the last principal search, Bartz and Horace Greeley High School's Mark Bayer, were both assistant principals at the time.

Residents who spoke Tuesday implored the board to consider including public input or a committee in the process.

Valeria Sombra told the board, "I think we need any process to be transparent at this point."

Gail Wilson stated she believes "the community has lost confidence in this board."

"I do not think the community will sit still while you [conduct] a fast track search under a veil of secrecy," she added.

The board, Fox-Alter and school attorney David Shaw continued to field questions from community members for close to three hours Tuesday in the middle school multi-purpose room, a change of venue from last week's overcrowded high school library.

Some residents said the lack of information surrounding the separation may deter potential candidates.

"I don't see how we can attract a good candidate in this district," Kim Bendus said.

Carolyn Sweeney pointed out, "What is the moral character of someone who would leave their school in a lurch like that? I [would] question that person's integrity, honestly."

Some speakers asked if Bartz would be reconsidered for the interim or full-time position, to which the board declined to comment, calling it a "personnel" issue.

Giving her a second chance, Bartz commented, would be the best option for the entire community.

"The superintendent would be stronger, the board would get some of its respect back from the community," she said. "I'm already well-respected in the community and I am willing to make any adjustments I need to...let's not lose the momentum."

Following the meeting, Winkler and Trustee Louis Conte said they were unsure of an exact timeline to move the search process forward, but stressed they will be conducting both the interim and full-time principal search simultaneously, keeping in mind the August 1 goal.

"We want to move forward as quickly as possible with due diligence and get the best possible candidate," Winkler said.

Added Conte, "Whether it be a permanent principal or an interim."

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