P.T.S.A. Leaders Resign
The entire executive board of the Sag Harbor Parent Teacher Student Association resigned this week in the wake of apparent community-wide disagreement about whether this year’s Pierson Middle and High School homecoming festivities should include a bonfire. Aura Winarick, the P.T.S.A. president, Mary Anne Miller, its vice president, and three other board members announced their resignations Wednesday morning.
Homecoming is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9 and 10. The festivities originated with a booster club that existed about 20 years ago, but were soon absorbed by the P.T.S.A. with some support from the school administration. For many years a bonfire was held at Long Beach, although several times in recent memory it had to be canceled and the celebration moved indoors due to inclement weather.
Prior to their resignation, Ms. Winarick and Ms. Miller had attempted to clarify what they said was incomplete and premature homecoming information announced by a school official. They were referring to Jeff Nichols, the Pierson principal, who said at an Aug. 17 school board meeting that there would not be a bonfire this year. Critics, including at least one school board member, advocated for a bonfire, saying its elimination would upset the community.
After the school board meeting, the P.T.S.A. issued a statement saying a bonfire had “not been a priority in this year’s planning.” This drew the public’s attention and vociferous criticism in last week’s Sag Harbor Express. On Monday, during a meeting with school officials, Ms. Winarick and Ms. Miller said no final decisions had been made. The P.T.S.A. had plans, they said, to convene a formal committee, including students, to finalize this year’s setup. By Wednesday, however, they issued the following statement.
“Our processes and communication to date have been met with such resistance in the press and has been so scrutinized by certain groups that we realize we cannot effectively achieve the good we want to bring into the school community. We are choosing instead to spend time with our families and loved ones and to serve our community in other ways.”
A bonfire is just one aspect of the annual event, which has included a parade, dance and chant competitions, skits, and athletic games among other activities.
Mr. Nichols had suggested twice, once during the Aug. 17 school board meeting and once at Monday’s meeting with the P.T.S.A. leaders, that a bonfire near the water is not a safe way to celebrate school spirit. The bonfire had also reportedly been a venue for student misbehavior, he said.
“The history and traditions are important, but that doesn’t mean we can’t change it for the better,” Mr. Nichols said Monday.
Following the board’s resignation Wednesday, Ms. Winarick said in an email she had received word from the regional P.T.S.A. organization that state and regional P.T.S.A. insurance policies “have bonfires on their ‘red light list,’ meaning they are prohibited because of risk and danger.”
“We’re so sad about losing our P.T.S.A. executive board,” Katy Graves, Sag Harbor’s superintendent, said by phone yesterday. “It’s a real blow to the district. I was very surprised and saddened by their decision to leave. It will be a real challenge to replace such a talented and child-centered group.” The first general P.T.S.A. meeting is planned for Sept. 29, but the future of that meeting is uncertain without an executive board.