AMERICAN FORK -- It was no joke. Legacy Elementary School principal John Burton had a rough Friday two weeks back.
He was unexpectedly called to the district office to meet with the boss.He lost 870 youngsters in the space of about 20 minutes.
And he was picked up by the police as he tried to follow a paper trail to find his wayward student body.
When he found them, they were sitting in the sun on the lawn at the American Fork Junior High, laughing at the success of an April Fools' prank that took two weeks to plan and ultimately involved the kids, all of the school teachers, district officials and the American Fork Police Department.
"I shouldn't have been surprised," Burton said. "I know Ann Adamson too well by now, but I thought since April Fools' was on a Saturday this year, I was off the hook."
Adamson, a second-grade teacher at Legacy, banked on that assumption.
She orchestrated the whole deal, enlisting teacher support at the Alpine Education Association meetings that aren't open to administrators and committing everyone to absolute secrecy. She asked Jack Reid, Alpine School District assistant superintendant, to call Burton away for a few minutes Friday morning.
Reid cooperated, making Burton think his certification was at question and then insisting he return to the school instead of doing a few errands first.
Meanwhile, teachers and students had slipped out the back doors and through the playground to the junior high school just behind Legacy Elementary.
Notes were left for Burton as clues in a sort of treasure hunt for his missing student population.
He was directed to the American Fork Recreation Center where he was unceremoniously picked up by D.A.R.E. officer Richard Jensen, ordered to put on a lion's mask and sit in the back seat.
He was taken "in custody" to the junior high with sirens wailing and lights flashing, much to the delight of the waiting children.
"They just roared," Burton said.
"They thought it was pretty funny -- until I got on the intercom and told them they would all have to stay an hour later to make up the lost time."
Burton was getting a little April Fools' revenge. Nobody had to stay after school.
The teachers and students have been talking about the prank -- using the experience as a springboard in discussions about character traits.
Second-grader Josh Scoresby said the trick was fun "because it wasn't a mean trick. It was really funny when he found us because the police looked to see if he was bad or good."
"I thought Mr. Burton was relieved that he found us," said sixth-grader Jory Banks.
"What we were trying to do was something as a whole school that didn't cost us anything and didn't hurt anybody," Adamson said. "We taught some lessons about unity and caring. And the kids were great. They conducted themselves with respect. They waited out on the front lawn quietly, and they didn't get into any trouble.
"Plus, they were so delighted when the police car came down the road. They had a lot of fun."
Burton said he was happy to help the children see that it's OK to laugh at yourself, even if he did feel a little silly riding in a police car looking like the school mascot.
Will this be an annual thing?
"Of course it will be," Adamson said.
"Next year? I think I'll call in sick," Burton said.
You can reach Sharon Haddock by e-mail at haddoc@desnews.com