Pleasantville Community Comes Out as Principal Saga Continues

This article was published at 7:40 p.m. and has since been updated.

Check back for more from Tuesday's meeting soon.

12:38 a.m. — The meeting has been adjourned.

12:35 a.m. — Public comments have ended after almost three-and-a-half hours. The board is continuing with its regular agenda.

10:17 p.m. — Dawn Bartz took to the podium for several minutes, asking for an opportunity to "defend" herself.

She said she presented the board with a notarized waiver form that would allow herself and the board to breach the confidentiality agreement that called for her resignation.

Board President Shane McGaffey said it will "take it under advisement."

Bartz confirmed she has applied for the principal position. She remains in the role through July 31.

Public comments are continuing.

9:12 p.m. — Matthew Hammond is presenting the board of education with a copy of a petition with 388 signatures asking it to cease its current principal search.

9:05 p.m. — The district has contracted two Southern-Westchester BOCES consultants to aid in the principal search, according to Superintendent Mary Fox-Alter.

She is also in the process of forming a committee, which will include community members, to aid in the search.

A principal must be in place by August 6, Fox-Alter said.

So far, 61 applicants for the probationary high school principal position and a number of potential interim candidates have expressed interests, according to Fox-Alter.

Public comments are set to begin now.

8:34 p.m. — Some audience members have started to express frustration as they wait for the public comment portion of the agenda. The board has been discussing its goals for the 2013-14 academic year, a discussion that began at the last meeting.

7:48 p.m. — The Board has unanimously voted to elect Shane McGaffey as president and Emily Persons as vice president for the coming year, effective immediately. They have been sworn into office.

Original Post: 
The Pleasantville Middle School multipurpose room is crowded again this evening as the board of education meets for its annual organizational and regular meetings.

For further reading:
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