WAYNESBORO – A group of parents in the Waynesboro Area School District has started a second petition in the wake of demotion proceedings and a multi-part appeals hearing for Summitview Elementary School Principal Steven Pappas, this one claiming “no confidence” in the superintendent and assistant superintendent.
As of 8 a.m. Tuesday, the petition at Change.org had met its goal of 500 signatures. The petition and reasons for it can be found at https://www.change.org/p/petition-of-no-confidence-wasd-superintendent-assistant-superintendent.
Superintendent Rita Sterner-Hine said both she and Assistant Superintendent Diane McCallum have been advised by legal counsel not to comment on this or anything else relating to the hearing process.
The petition carries the name of Ashley Wilburn, a parent who has been outspoken in support of Pappas. It is addressed to the school board and asks that public trust in district leadership be restored. Among reasons for the petition, the document says, action is needed because when district leaders appear to:
- conduct inadequate investigations,
- support severe discipline without substantial evidence,
- fail to properly address allegations of staff misconduct involving students, and
- alter official evaluation documents months after completion
As a result, petitioners said, “the public’s faith in the administration of our schools is eroded.”
The petition continues, “When disciplinary action is taken without a reasonable investigation, the district, and by extension the community, not the superintendent personally, bears the risk.
“A superintendent and assistant superintendent who bring career-altering allegations without a reasonable investigation undermines due process, misleads the board, creates fear and instability for employees and damages public trust. That failure demands accountability.”
Petitioner are asking that the board “take appropriate action to restore transparency, accountability and trust in district leadership.
“Until such review occurs, we, the undersigned, state that we have no confidence in the ability of Superintendent Rita Sterner-Hine and Assistant Superintendent Diane McCallum to fairly, objectively and transparently lead the Waynesboro Area School District.”
Parent supporters of Pappas have gathered 1,606 signatures to their petition to reinstate Pappas. It can be found at https://www.change.org/p/reinstate-mr-steve-pappas-as-principal-of-waynesboro-area-school?source_location=search.
Supporters also have launched a drive to help pay Pappas’ legal bills at https://www.givesendgo.com/StandWithPappas2026?utm_source=website_share&utm_medium=sharelink&utm_campaign=StandWithPappas2026. As of 9:15 p.m. Monday, they had raised more than $7,000 toward a $30,000 goal.
The district has two attorneys, funded by the district.
