High School Principal Suspended Indefinitely After Video Of Inappropriate Dance With School Mascot Goes Viral

A high school principal in Merced is learning the hard way that “cool” can turn into “viral” in about five seconds. A dance with the school mascot at Buhach Colony High School, captured on video and shared by a parent, has now landed Principal Nunes on administrative leave.

It started with a rally that was supposed to hype up students, but the clip shows Nunes dancing, then blurting out the line, “What happens at Buhach, stays at Buhach.” By Monday, August 19, the Merced Union High School District put him on administrative leave while they review everything. And because Ryan Attebery, the father of a 14-year-old student, posted the video with the caption, “Am I a square, or was this weird AF for a principal to do?”, the community is split between people defending Nunes and people questioning how no one flagged it earlier.

Now everyone is stuck asking why the red flags never showed up until the internet did.

What happens at Buhach stays at Buhach… or does it?

RECKLESSMMA/INSTAGRAM

That “weird AF” Facebook caption by Ryan Attebery is what turned a private school moment into a public argument fast.

By Monday, August 19th, the Merced Union High School District had placed Nunes on administrative leave, pending a comprehensive review of the situation. The district spokesperson, Viviana Fuentes, emphasized the importance of maintaining a "safe and respectful environment" at all times—a standard that many felt had been compromised during the rally.

In a related commentary, the enthusiasm of school leaders can inspire students, but it must be balanced with responsibility.

Buhach Colony High School—Home of the most talked-about rally of the year

Buhach Colony High School

While some students rallied around Principal Nunes, others were stuck on the part where he said, “What happens at Buhach, stays at Buhach.”

And for another family fallout, read about the mom who stopped her sister-in-law from cooking for her baby.

The video, which was shared on Facebook by Ryan Attebery, the father of a 14-year-old student at the school, quickly gained attention. Attebery captioned the post with, "Am I a square, or was this weird AF for a principal to do?" It turns out he wasn’t the only one who felt that way. 

The footage captured Nunes' dance and his subsequent exclamation of "What happens at Buhach, stays at Buhach," sparking a mix of reactions. While some students defended Nunes, suggesting it was just a bad joke gone wrong, others, including parents, were left wondering if the principal had crossed a line.

What’s next for Buhach Colony High after the principal’s viral dance video?

VICTOR BJORKLAND/FLICKR.COM

The district spokesperson, Viviana Fuentes, stepped in with the “safe and respectful environment” line right after the Monday, August 19 administrative leave decision.

Attebery, who never intended to spark such controversy, explained that he shared the video simply to inform other parents of what their children were witnessing at school. 

While many of Nunes' former students have come to his defense, insisting he’s a good person who made a poor decision, the situation has left the school community divided.

And the loudest takeaway from parents is that the dance did not just go viral, it exposed how the community missed the “red flag” moment entirely.

In the end, the real question is why the dance didn’t raise any eyebrows in the first place. As Attebery wisely pointed out, "The fact that there wasn't a red flag is a red flag in itself." 

Sometimes, trying to be the "cool" principal can backfire. Now everyone involved is left to pick up the pieces of a situation that was, as one parent put it, "all weird."

The aftermath of this viral incident highlights the necessity for school leaders to reflect on their actions and the influence they hold over students. Regular workshops on appropriate behavior and ethical leadership can help prevent future incidents, ensuring a supportive atmosphere for both staff and students.

Nobody wants a principal’s dance to be the thing that defines the school year.

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