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WHAT HE CALLS AN UNLAWFUL TERMINATION. >> I WANT THE PRINCIPAL TO BE REINSTATED. >> ALUMNI, PARENTS, AND STUDENTS, ALL MAKING THEIR DEMANDS CLEAR. >> THEY NEED TO GIVE PEOPLE ANSWERS. BRANDI: DOZENS PACK A ROOM MONDAY NIGHT TO SUPPORT THE MAN WHO LED CHRISTIAN BROTHER’S HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. >> I NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS THOUGHT THAT I WOULD BE IN THIS POSITION. BRANDI: HIRED IN JULY 2017, CHRIS ORR HAD BEEN THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN PRINCIPAL AT CHRISTIAN BROTHERS IN TH SCHOOL’S MORE THAN 100-YEAR HISTORY. IN OCTOBER, HE ABRUPTLY LEFT. HIS DEPARTURE, DRAWING CRITICISM NOT ONLY FROM MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. ON HIS FACEBOOK PAGE, SACRAMENTO COUNTY SUPERVISOR PHIL SERNA SAID, "THIS TROUBLES ME GREATLY." SACRAMENTO COUNCILMAN STEVE HANSEN TELLING KCRA THIS ISN’T GOOD. HOPEFULLY, MR. ORR IS REHIRED AND THE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP SENDS A STRONG MESSAGE TO ITS FAMILIES THAT STUDENTS OF COLOR AND LGBT STUDENTS ARE SAFE AND RESPECTED IN ITS COMMUNITY TWO WEEKS AFTER HIS DEPARTURE, THE SCHOOL’S BOARD SENT THIS LETTER TO PARENTS. A SPOKESMAN HIRED ONLY A MONTH AGO REFUSED TO GIVE AN EXPLANATION, CALLING IT A PERSONNEL MATTER. >> WE AREN’T GETTING INTO ANY DETAILS SURROUNDING HIS DEPARTURE. BRANDI: IT IS ONE OF THREE RECENT ARCHERS. A SPOKESPERSON SAID MICHELLE WILLIAMS, WHO BEGAN THE SAME MONTH, RESIGNED IN APRIL. >> WHY WE DO ELIMINATE THESE TWO POSITIONS OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS AT THIS TIME WITHOUT GIVING ANY REASON? IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT. BRANDI: IN JULY, THE SCHOOL PRESIDENT ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION. MONDAY NIGHT, THE FORMER PRINCIPAL SAID THE OUTGOING PRESIDENT FIRED HIM. >> THE DECISION TO ABRUPTLY TERMINATE ME IS IMPROPER. IT IS TRULY TROUBLING. IN LIGHT

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Dozens voiced concern during a meeting Monday night about the abrupt termination of the first African American principal at Sacramento’s Christian Brothers High School.In a prepared statement, former Principal Chris Orr told the crowd gathered to support him that he couldn’t discuss the specifics of the matter but said he is seeking legal counsel because of what he calls an unlawful termination.“I never in a million years thought that I would be in this position,” Orr told the crowd.Dozens packed the Family Life Center to support the man who led Christian Brothers High School for the past two years.“You don’t fire somebody and not have some clarity on why you fired them and just think you can walk away from it,” Raymond Jones said.Hired in July 2017, Orr had been the first African American principal at Christian Brothers in the school’s more than 100-year history. In October, he abruptly left.Two weeks after his departure, the school’s board sent a letter to parents. The letter is dated Oct. 28.A spokesman hired by the school a month ago with a background in crisis communication refused to give an explanation, calling it a personnel matter.“We’re not going to be getting into any details surrounding his departure,” Roger Salazar said.His departure is not only drawing criticism from members of the community. On his Facebook page Sacramento County Supervisor Phil Serna wrote, “This troubles me greatly.”Sacramento Councilman Steve Hansen told KCRA 3 “This isn’t good. Hopefully, Mr. Orr is rehired and the school leadership sends a strong message to its families that students of color and LGBT students are safe and respected in its community.”Orr’s termination is just one of three recent departures at the school.Salazar said Assistant Principal Michelle Williams, who began the same month as Orr resigned in April 2019. “Why would you eliminate these two positions of African Americans in these positions at this particular time without giving any reason?” Jones questioned. “It just seems like something’s not right.”In July, the school’s president announced his resignation. Monday night, the former principal told the supportive crowd the outgoing president fired him.“The decision to abruptly terminate me is improper, and it is truly troubling in light of the personnel reasons and facts surrounding his resignation,” Orr said.Monday’s meeting was the third one hosted by parents who say they’re decided how they’ll handle this going forward. Salazar told KCRA 3 the search is currently underway for a new president. That person will then decide the leadership structure going forward.