The Principal is a 1987 action thriller film starring Jim Belushi, Louis Gossett Jr. and Rae Dawn Chong.

Written by Frank Deese and directed by Christopher Cain, it was filmed in Oakland, California, and at Northgate High School in nearby Walnut Creek and distributed by TriStar Pictures on Panavision.

This sparks a small riot, which earns Rick the enmity of the teachers and Jake, the school head of security and a graduate of Brandel.

Eventually, Rick manages to enforce his policies, getting rid of the drugs being dealt in the bathrooms, and clearing out the hallways — but not always successfully.

As the students are now forced to go to class, some of the more unruly ones become increasingly disruptive, including troublemaker White Zac, who eventually attempts to rape one of the teachers, Ms. Orozco.

Victor, meanwhile, continues to assert his influence on the school, going so far as to brutally beat Emile, a former member of his gang who warms to Rick's teaching style and actually starts learning.

Arturo and his friends in shop class repair the motorcycle and paint "El Principal" on the gas tank and on Rick's helmet.

While Jake goes to chain the doors, Rick attempts to call 911 but discovers that Victor's crew has cut the phone lines.