In front of a standing-room-only crowd, nearly a dozen residents, teachers and former students expressed support for Palmerton High School Principal Paula Husar during Tuesday night's school board meeting.

The comments were the culmination of more than a week of public outcry amid rumors Husar's job was in jeopardy.A petition started by David Schwartz last week called for the board to retain Husar and several days later released part of her 2015-16 evaluation, which included an unsatisfactory overall rating from Superintendent Scot Engler and scores of zero out of three ratings in multiple performance categories."We moved into the district three years ago because of the sense of pride and the reputation of the high school," Schwartz said Tuesday night. "Paula Husar is laser-focused on education."Schwartz also presented a petition calling for the board not to renew Engler's contract.Board addresses issueWhile there was no item on Tuesday's agenda addressing Husar's employment, Board President Tammy Recker said she felt the public was owed an explanation.The board, she said, was made aware of issues concerning Husar around March and, after interviewing administrators and contacting the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, brought in a mediator."The board recognizes we don't have a human relations person and that isn't good," Recker said. "Every employee is someone we value. We don't want anybody to leave. I'm a firm believer that nothing is so broke you can't fix it."Recker said she couldn't go in depth on the ins and outs of what was discussed with the mediator concerning Husar, but said the board is looking for a positive resolution."I have read every single comment," she told the audience in what she called an unscripted statement. "I feel for both parties because it's a hard situation to be there. Maybe this isn't enough, but I'm trying to give you facts that I know. As an educator, I can't sit here and tell you we know nothing and we are not going to tell you any more."While on vacation on July 22, Recker caught wind of the social media outrage and called for an executive session on July 26."It wasn't meant to be a secret meeting," she said. "I called for a meeting so the board could hear what was going on. I learned that Paula was out. The board did not put her on leave, place her on an improvement plan or have any discussion on terminating her."As for the evaluation, Recker said neither she nor any other board member saw that document."We never see an employee's evaluation except for the superintendents," she said.Bomber PrideAndrew Nosti, a 2014 Palmerton graduate, said during his class's commencement ceremony with Husar at the helm, "Bomber Pride" filled their hearts and fueled their claps.Before her arrival as principal in 2013, the notion of Bomber Pride was not evident at the school, he said."Previously, we felt disconnected from the administration," Nosti said in a letter that was read Tuesday by Jacob Taylor. "Within a year, I shared the school, stage and student section with Paula. I spoke, chanted, cheered and learned alongside her and I cherish those memories today."Much of the criticism Tuesday was aimed at Engler, including from Towamensing Elementary School teacher Lori Smith, who recalled her first interaction with the superintendent.On the day the school held a pep rally to get students excited for the first day of class, she congratulated Engler on getting hired."Congratulations," she said again Tuesday, "five syllables that I regret."Smith and many other speakers at the meeting received a round of applause following their comments.Linda Pereira called for Husar's evaluation to be stricken from her permanent record."Could we all be so wrong about Paula?" Pereira asked. "I've never seen someone with this kind of support who has not earned it. I have seen a change in our school's dynamic and the pride our students carry like a badge of honor."Not just sportsA graduate of the Class of 2015, Stephanie Brinker recalled during a district championship softball run when students lined the halls as the team was dismissed to go to batting practice, wishing them good luck."It was so overwhelming for me to see that," Brinker said. "That would have never happened with the old administration."It wasn't just athletics that Husar supported, residents told the board. They said she also frequented school drama productions and band concerts."Unless there is an unbelievably despicable cause for her not to be at that high school next year, it would be a real shame to let her go," resident Ken Palmer said.Retired teacher Audrey Larvey asked the board what they wanted Palmerton High School to be?"Do you want it to prepare students for the future? Do you want it to be a place that helps students become successful members of society? Do you want it to be a place where the faculty provide vibrant, cutting-edge lessons? Do you want it to be a place where morale is high and school spirit is blossoming? That is what you have with Paula Husar."Another executive session followed Tuesday's board meeting."We have a lot of talking and discussing to do," Recker said. "We want a positive resolution and I think we can get there. We have come too far to go backward."