BARNSTABLE, MA — Barnstable High School Principal Patrick Clark suffered a medical emergency two days after being placed on leave, Clark’s family announced. According to a family statement obtained by the Cape Cod Times, Superintendent Meg Mayo-Brown put Clark on paid administrative leave Sept. 25, “citing concerns with the opening of school.”

On Sept. 27, Clark collapsed during a morning bike ride near Dowes Beach. Bystanders called 911, and Clark was taken to Cape Cod Hospital. Clark’s family said he suffered a “cardiac event,” which hospitalized him for three days. In their statement, Clark’s family was also critical of how long it took Mayo-Brown to make Clark’s leave public.

“The community, including students, parents and staff of BHS did not receive official notice of this (suspension), in the form of a brief email from Dr. Mayo-Brown, until after the opening of school on [Sept. 28],” the statement to the Cape