May Take Reagan Administration Post : Principal Free of Charges for Chaining School Doors

A prosecutor dropped contempt charges Monday against principal Joe Clark after the tough-talking administrator agreed that he should not chain school doors shut. Clark also said he probably would be leaving soon to take a job in the Reagan Administration.

Clark, who once kept Eastside High School doors chained to keep drug dealers out, was charged with violating a court order that school exits be kept open for safety reasons during school hours. Clark said he did not know that the doors were chained before dismissal time on Dec. 14, as shown in a television report.

Clark, whose no-nonsense policies have brought praise from President Reagan and wrath from the local school board, said he would leave after the end of the school year, although he did not know exactly what job he would get in Washington.

‘Great to Be a Republican’

“I thank America for standing behind this embattled and beleaguered principal,” Clark said after reaching an agreement with the prosecutor. “America has been on my side, God was on my side and Ronald Reagan was on my side. . . . It’s great to be a Republican.”

Steven Brizek, a Passaic County assistant prosecutor, said his office approved dismissal because the agreement made Clark’s responsibilities clear. Brizek said a contempt citation would do little to make the schools safe for students.

The agreement does not affect disciplinary action the school board is bringing against Clark for expelling 60 students without permission.

Judith Moran, president of the nine-member Paterson Board of Education, said the board will continue to investigate Clark’s conduct in that case. She could not say when it might make a decision.

Moran said she was not disturbed by Clark’s decision to go to Washington. “If that is what Mr. Clark wants to do, that’s fine,” she said. “You can be sure the district has some able administrators who could administrate Eastside High School and do it as well as Mr. Clark.”

Praise From Reagan

Clark, 50, who uses a bullhorn in hallways to keep students in line, came to national attention after Reagan and U.S. Education Secretary William J. Bennett praised his stern approach to chronic truancy and failure.

Gary Bauer, who heads Reagan’s office of policy development, on Saturday offered Clark a job on his staff, which he said develops domestic programs for the President, if Clark is ousted as principal.