EVERETT, Mass. (AP) — The principal of Everett High School was
suspended Tuesday for two days without pay for appearing in a spoof of
‘‘The Terminator'' movies that was shown to students, which some people
thought was inappropriate.
Principal Erick Naumann, as well as the teacher who made the video,
received equal punishments, the office of superintendent Frederick
Foresteire confirmed. Naumann could have been fired.
The video was a way for the new principal to introduce himself to
students. It shows him walking through the empty school dressed in dark
sunglasses and a leather jacket, similar to the Arnold Schwarzenegger
character in the movies. It was interspersed with scenes from the
movies, including a burning playground and explosions. When a teacher
asks the principal what has happened to everyone, Naumann replies that
they have been ‘‘naumannated.''
Some said the parody was inappropriate and too violent in light of
the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., which occurred just weeks before
the video was shown.
‘‘He's a strong leader, he made the wrong decision on the video ...
but I certainly don't think he should be terminated,'' Foresteire said.
Naumann and his lawyer met with a school committee in a closed-door
meeting on Monday night, after which there was an open comment period.
Naumann received words of support and encouragement from students and
parents, some of whom said there was an overreaction to the tone of the
video.
‘‘He was just trying to find a way to connect with the students,'' junior Sarah Noelsaint said.
But some parents said the video concerned them.
‘‘I was scared to send my daughter to school, because I don't know him,'' Carol Ciampi Dugan said.
Naumann, who has worked for the Everett public schools for 15 years
but is in his first year as principal of the high school, has
apologized.
‘‘I hope we can move forward from this,'' he said Monday.
