Mesa students rally to support principal

Hundreds of Mesa Westwood High students rallied Monday at school to support a principal who is under fire for his controversial handling of a recent school fight.

Principal Tim Richard gave two boys who fought the option of holding hands for an hour instead of suspension.

The picture went viral and many students said the principal did the right thing.

Some students called the solution “creative.”

Although Richard did not follow district discipline guidelines, Helen Hollands, spokeswoman for Mesa Public Schools said, “Dr. Richard is the principal of Westwood High and he will continue to be the principal of Westwood High.”