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Principal Accused Of Sending Pornographic E-mails

Posted: 5:51 am EST February 14, 2006Updated: 7:25 am EST February 14, 2006

A north Georgia community is divided over the punishment a principal should receive.

The principal is accused of e-mailing pornography to some of his colleagues on school computers during school hours in Blairsville.

Talk to people in this community and you'll find those who think the 5 day suspension the principal received was enough.

And then there are those who think he should have been fired for passing porn during school hours using school equipment.

Sandra Boyer says, "Nothing short of termination is appropriate."

Pictures of nude women were sent to 5 Union County High School faculty members in an email with the caption: "it is large breast appreciation week once again."

The superintendent says the pornographic pictures were sent by Union County High School principal Ed Rohrbaugh.

They were sent using school computers during school.

That's why some in this community are calling for rohrbaugh to be fired.

James Carter says, "It can't be tolerated. And the school board's only action was to suspend him for 5 days."

That's without pay. People packed this school board meeting looking for answers, but the schools superintendent said rohrbaugh who has a spotless record, has been punished, and even apologized.

Superintendent Tommy Stevens says, "He didn't try to cover it up. Didn't deny it. He was very forthright about it. And he knows he made a mistake."

People who support Rohrbaugh think he deserves a break.

Joe White says, "He didn't put them anyplace that they could be seen by children."

Tina Atkins says, "I was not offended by them."

Critics of Rohrbaugh say it's hard to teach students to stay away from pornography when the principal is passing it around in emails.

Carter says, "The principal of Union County High School essentially destroyed his credibility at the school with the students."

Rohrbaugh is back from suspension and tonight his contract was renewed for next year.

The board also clarified its policies to indicate school computers are only supposed to be used for school related issues.

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