The video, which runs for three minutes, does not appear to show any student, or Habershaw, wearing a mask either in the school before the event, or in the tent where the dance was held. Footage inside the tent does not show whether the sides of the tent were ventilated to allow inside air to circulate easily inside the tent, which medical experts have noted throughout the pandemic is one of the most effective safeguards against indoor spread of COVID-19, in addition to masks.
The Providence Journal reports a letter to parents Monday informed them Pamela Bernardi will be acting principal until further notice.
Leah Hazelwood, a member of the Warwick Schools Administration and Facebook voice of the Warwick Schools Community-Better Together Facebook page, defended Habershaw. “At a time when Pilgrim High School has been in the spotlight, never let it be said that we have not had a great, if not the best, Principal in Warwick, Gerry Habershaw. He has always been a leader with strength, and he has my support. Regardless of what has happened as of recent, you cannot erase 30 plus years of service in one evening. I sure hope no one ever post a spotlight on one evening of your life, and makes it the sum of your entire career. Trust me, you don’t always have all the facts in a snapshot or 30 second video,” Hazelwood said.