HUDSON, Ohio -- Hudson school officials responded early Tuesday afternoon to a student walkout saying they were "saddend by the decision that students made to walk out."

The students staged the walkout to protest the school board's decision not to renew the contract of Roger Howard, the Hudson High School principal.

The press release reads:

"We are absolutely saddened by the decision of our students to express their frustration by walking out of school. The central administration spoke with Roger Howard this morning and was assured that the high school staff was doing everything possible to work with the students."
--Sheryl Sheatzley, Communications Manager

About 600 students at Hudson High School walked out of school at about 10 a.m. Tuesday morning. They returned to class about 11 a.m.

The superintendent cited a "needs improvement" rating on his last evaluation and lack of improvement as reasons for the action.

What Happened?

WEWS reported the students began walking over to the superintendent's office in protest.

Video captured by NewsChannel5 photographers shows an officer using pepper spray. (See photo)

SLIDESHOW: Walkout Confrontation
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Officials said students were reportedly pelting officers with snowballs and other items.

The press release added that "a handful of students decided to engage police. The police determined how best to diffuse the situation."

WEWS reported six other police departments were called in to keep the peace, including Streetsboro, Reminderville, Boston Heights, Stow and Twinsburg.

Pepper spray was used to try to disperse the crowd.

Two 17-year-old students were arrested.

School officials said the students involved in the walkout could face detentions -- and possible suspensions -- depending on their records.

The walkout wasn't the first protest by the Hudson School student body in connection with their principal.

On Monday night, parents and students attended the school board meeting to protest.

Video

Hudson Walkout

Many of the students spoke out about Howard, saying he is a good person who really cares about his students.

"(The evaluations) are performance-based ... things that have to go on, based on the job description of what an administrator in the building does," said Hudson Schools communication manager Sheryl Sheatzley.

Howard has been an educator for 20 years. He said in his rebuttal letter that in all of those years he has never received a formal evaluation approaching any level of dissatisfaction or concern.