(Editor’s Note: This is a developing story and The Smoke Signal will provide updates once more information is made available.)

Glenn deMarrais, the current Pascack Hills principal, is recommended as Pascack Valley’s principal for the 2020-2021 school year pending the Board of Education’s approval, according to the BOE’s meeting agenda for Monday, April 13. 

The BOE rescinded the appointment of Brian Hutchinson, the Emerson Junior-Senior High School principal who was approved as PV’s principal for the 2020-2021 school year on March 16, at his request, according to the agenda. When reached for comment earlier in the week, Hutchinson said in an email to a Smoke Signal reporter on April 9 that “it would be most appropriate to have official information come from the PVRSD office.”

DeMarrais had announced his retirement earlier this year. The BOE accepted the rescindment of his resignation at his request, according to the agenda.

The community expressed support for PV Interim Principal John Puccio to be permanent principal at the BOE meeting on March 16. Superintendent Erik Gundersen read over 70 letters that were in favor of Puccio, who has been the assistant principal at PV for the past 12 years and stepped in as principal after Tom DeMaio retired during the 2019-2020 school year.