With his job on the line, Farrell High School Principal Lee McFerren listened without saying a word to seven hours of testimony from his former and current bosses as to why he was suspended without pay since Feb. 7.

The second day of the suspended principal’s removal hearing consisted of examination of the superintendents who worked with McFerren.

Retired Superintendent Richard R. Rubano and acting superintendent Carole Borkowski Tuesday recounted in sometimes excruciating detail how McFerren mishandled people and situations as he managed the high school the last three years.

In addition to being McFerren’s boss, Rubano said he acted as McFerren’s mentor as he settled into his job as high school principal.

After McFerren was hired in July 2005 and school started that year, “Mr. McFerren set a positive tone,” Rubano testified.

“He stressed student and staff accountabilities and creating a safe and orderly environment,” Rubano said.

He had big expectations — something that’s “a great quality for an administrator to have.”

That first year, things seemed to be going well at the high school. McFerren’s presence halted potentially bad practices such as students loitering in hallways and classroom doors decorated so people couldn’t see inside that was noticeable a couple weeks into the 2005-2006 school year, Rubano said.

McFerren also banned refrigerators and microwaves from classrooms, Rubano said.

The first hint of controversy happened when McFerren piggybacked on a previously-discussed change in school policy to toughen the performance standards from a “D” average to a “C” for students who participated in extracurricular activities.

Although McFerren has touted the idea as his own, it was actually the brainchild of former school board member Jerome Flynt and was supported by other board members, Rubano said.

McFerren helped to implement the policy, however, Rubano said.

McFerren “believed students should be challenged,” Rubano said.

It was met with stiff opposition from then-football coach Lou Falconi and the policy was lessened.

McFerren’s honeymoon didn’t last long.