SOME STUDENTS REACT WITH GLEE

PORTSMOUTH -- Students said the high school was abuzz Tuesday after
learning Principal Forrest Ransdell and Assistant Principal Mike
McKenney had resigned.

Jennifer Lombard, 16, said word quickly spread after newspapers began
reporting the administrators had stepped down.

"The school celebrated between third and fourth period," Lombard
said, adding that applause filled the hallways.

She acknowledged that the reaction had more to do with
high-schoolers' attitudes toward authority in general, but said many
students did have "personal issues" with Ransdell.

The departures of Ransdell and McKenney came after a string of
student drug arrests, issues with student drinking, and growing
complaints about the athletic program. Administrators have taken flak
from students and parents for how they've handled these issues.

Carly Deleeuw, 17, said Ransdell was not a favorite with students,
but she said she thought he was a "nice guy."

"He made a lot of changes really fast, and a lot of people didn't
like that," Deleeuw said, citing his strict rules about student lunch
and other policies.

Despite these problems, Deleeuw and friend Eddie Young, 15, said they
thought Ransdell became a scapegoat for the school's drug and alcohol problems.

"It wasn't really fair to Mr. Ransdell, saying it's his fault there
were so many drugs in Portsmouth," Deleeuw said.

Brad Bergeron, 16, agreed that some were quick to blame Ransdell and
McKenney for drug and alcohol problems that have long existed at the school.

"I don't think it's going to solve all our problems by getting them
out," Bergeron said.

Bergeron said the problem was Ransdell's leadership style.

"He treated kids unfairly and they didn't respect him," he said. "A
lot of parents were angry about how he handled the kids."

Bergeron, who is captain of the hockey team, said he thought McKenney
may have left because he was overstressed as assistant principal and
athletic director.

Patrick Dowd said he was "pretty shocked" to hear that the two
administrators had resigned.

"I knew a lot has been going on in the school, but I didn't think it
would push someone over the edge," the 15-year-old said.

Longtime Latin teacher Joe Arnstein said he learned of the
resignations through the grapevine just like students.

"I was surprised because I'm out of the loop," he said. "I'm sorry to
see both of them go."

Arnstein said the school has had six principals in the 36 years he's
been teaching.

"It's not a job that I would ever want to do," he said.