My school was never like this. But then I didn't grow up in Montvale, NJ.
Principal Collapses in 'Prank Day'
MONTVALE, N.J. (AP) - A high school principal was hospitalized after collapsing during a ``senior prank day'' gone awry.
Seniors at Pascack Hills High School had planned for weeks to throw thousands of rubber balls on cue into a school hallway as part of ``Operation Nerf'' last Thursday.
But along with the rubber balls, someone set a dozen rats and mice and thousands of crickets free in the hall, causing students to squash and kick the pests, said acting Superintendent James J. Dwyer.
Shortly after, when students heard that a senior was being questioned in Principal Manuel Ferreira's office about the pranks, many of the school's 164 seniors left the cricket-spattered hallway and gathered in the lobby, shouting for the principal to free the young woman.
As the protest grew louder, someone pulled a fire alarm. The melee escalated as the school's 600 students were outside waiting for firefighters to inspect the building, students said.
``Students were throwing the balls at each other and the principal,'' senior Sean Letz said.
Ferreira, who had become ``overly excited'' about the day's events, collapsed at 12:30 p.m. He was hospitalized for angioplasty for a clogged artery, Dwyer said.
He was released Saturday and was doing fine, his family said.
``He's a very good leader and a good person,'' said Jean Hopewell, whose stepson attends Pascack Hills. ``These kids feel awful. They never would have done something to hurt him.''
Police said those responsible for the release of the animals could be prosecuted in juvenile court, ``if we ever catch them,'' said Capt. J.J. Frederick.
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