Schools

“Save the Planetarium” Petition Reaches 700 Signatures

The “Save the David M. Brown Planetarium” online petition has tallied its 700th signature. The petition received 100 signatures yesterday, including that of former planetarium director Steve Smith, according to petition organizer Raphael Perrino.

Meanwhile, the Save the Planetarium Facebook page now has more than 2,900 fans.

On Monday, Perrino presented the petition to school board member Dr. Emma Violand-Sanchez. “The meeting went very well,” Perrino said.

The fate of the planetarium is expected to be discussed at tomorrow’s 7:30 p.m. school board meeting. Perrino hopes to have between 20 and 40 people on hand for a rally.

Not everybody wants to see the planetarium remain open, however. In the budget recommendations it approved yesterday, the Arlington County Civic Federation voted in favor of shuttering the planetarium, as superintendent Dr. Pat Murphy has proposed.