Pleasantville Appoints Interim Principal [Updated]

Note: This article was published at 7:27 p.m. and has since been updated.

As promised, the Pleasantville Board of Education appointed a high school principal to replace Dawn Bartz before doors open in September.

A unanimous board vote Tuesday evening led to the appointment Dr. Daniel McCann as the interim Pleasantville High School lead administrator.

Click here to view a video of Dr. McCann speaking at the board meeting.

His appointment goes into effect on August 12 and extends through June 30, 2014.

McCann most recently served as superintendent of the Hendrick Hudson School District from 2006 to 2012. He also worked for Rye City as assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and evaluation from 1997 to 2001.

McCann retired from the Hendrick Hudson position at the end of the 2012 school year.

Superintendent Mary Fox-Alter and the Board touted McCann's experience in developing and implementing strategic plans in his previous positions.

"His experience is extraordinary and he is going to be in a great position to move the high school forward," Board Trustee Lois Winkler commented. "He is going to push us ahead."

Fox-Alter noted community members were insistent that an interim principal not simply be a "caretaker" for the school, but rather someone who would move things forward.

Gregg Fonde will remain the high school's assistant principal for the coming year and Donald Marra will serve as middle school assistant principal for 2013-14 (a post Fonde was to assume).

McCann's appointment comes less than two months after the Board accepted the controversial resignation of two-year Principal Dawn Bartz.

Bartz previously announced she had applied for the principal position that she vacated at the end of July.

The process to vet candidates for either a permanent or interim principal position including aid from BOCES consultants and a search committee made up of community members and district employees.

The district received 88 applications, Fox-Alter said. A "majority" of those applicants were for the probationary position, Trustee Larry Boes replied in response to a resident's inquiry.

"I'm just incredibly excited," Board President Shane McGaffey said of the appointment.

He said the board's discussions with McCann have included plans for long-term goals and initiatives like STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

"All these things are things that Dr. McCann has done," he shared. "Not only has he done them—he's done them well."

McCann, in addressing the Board, said his background lies in the sciences. He also noted his interest in observing the high school's robust performing arts program and cheering on the school's athletes as he settles into his role.

"I think athletics is not extracurricular," he said. "I think it's core at schools."

McCann plans to implement an entry plan that includes reaching out to all community stakeholders as the school year start approaches.

"I feel a match coming here to Pleasantville," he said.

Click here to view a video of Dr. McCann speaking at the board meeting.

For further reading:
Pleasantville HS Principal Committee Conducts 'Second Interviews'
Pleasantville Solidifies HS Principal Search Committee
Board, Residents Continue Pleasantville Principal Debate
Pleasantville Community Comes Out as Principal Saga Continues
Bartz Supporters Launch Online Petition
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