Russ Zimmer

@RussZimmer

MIDDLETOWN - A popular Middletown High School South teacher who was reportedly made to resign for showing his students a video clip that poked fun at Donald Trump has rescinded his resignation and is no longer the subject of any school board action.

Joe Ventre initially agreed to step down at the end of the year after administrators — prompted by at least one parental complaint — took issue with the history teacher's showing a segment from HBO's "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver," according to the New York Post.

The segment, which originally aired several weeks ago, was a full-on send up of the GOP presidential candidate. One of the lines: "Donald Trump can seem appealing until you take a closer look, much like the lunch buffet at a strip club."

READ: ACLU defends West Long Branch man ticketed for Trump flags

No other presidential candidates were lampooned in the same way, News12 reported.

But Friday morning, Middletown Superintendent William George III told the Asbury Park Press that the situation had changed.

TELL US: Was this an overreaction to an timely lesson on politics and satire or an inappropriate setting for a one-sided roast of a political leader? Let us know in the comments, on Facebook or on Twitter.

"Today, the staff member withdrew (the ) letter of resignation," he said. "Therefore, there is no action regarding this employee before the (school) board at this time."

George said he legally could not discuss personnel matters beyond that statement. Ventre did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

Here's the video at the center of the controversy:

Parents and students voiced their displeasure with the decision at a school board meeting earlier this week.

One student's online petitiongathered more than 2,100 signatures as of this morning.

Signers called the teacher's forced departure "ridiculous" and "a travesty of justice." Others described Ventre as "kindhearted," "amazing" and "a model teacher."

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Russ Zimmer: 732-557-5748, razimmer@app.com