STAFFORD, Va., Sept. 28 (UPI) -- A Virginia high school principal has resigned after coming under fire for suspending a student who ran onto a football field wearing a banana costume.
Karen Spillman, principal at Colonial Forge High School for two months, announced her resignation at the Stafford County school board meeting Wednesday. She faced criticism for suspending sophomore Bryan Thompson, 14, after he ran onto the school's football field during halftime at a game Sept. 16, Fredericksburg.com reported Thursday.
Spillman told Thompson's mother the teen would be suspended for the remainder of the year because he had been disrespectful and disrupted a school activity. Students at the school protested the suspension by wearing yellow T-shirts that read "Free banana man."
"I think Colonial Forge has been in a very difficult position for the past week and a half," Superintendent Randy Bridges said at the school board meeting. "I commend the faculty and staff and administration for moving forward on providing a quality education."
