At a meeting meant to introduce Mr Cormick to Forbury parents at Forbury School yesterday, tempers flared and, at times, the meeting became uncontrollable.
At the beginning of the meeting, Mr Cormick said he had been privileged to lead Macandrew Intermediate for almost eight years and had come to love the South Dunedin community.
He was appointed by the emerging board of trustees on Saturday night and both Macandrew Intermediate and Forbury schools were notified of the appointment on Monday morning.
"I was delighted that the board would have faith in me to help realise the vision of the school.
"The emotions, the drama, the upset that has gone on in this process - I want to recognise that.
"It's been huge for you people."
Mr Cormick attempted to give a brief outline of his career and his credentials, but was unable to finish because of loud outbursts and interruptions from Forbury parents.
Many were angry at his appointment, and believed he would not be able to do the job as well as Forbury principal Janice Tofia.
They were angry Forbury School, which they said was thriving under Mrs Tofia, was being taken away.
Among concerns were his ability to deal with pupils with special needs, and his ability to deal with alleged incidents of bullying at Macandrew Intermediate.
"I don't hear anything good about your school," one parent said.
"We are really concerned you're not going to be able to pull off the job."
Others said the selection process was a farce.
"It's absolute bull.
"You ask us what we want as a community and then you do the absolute opposite."
Many parents wanted to know how Mr Cormick got the job over Mrs Tofia, but emerging board of trustees chairwoman Joy Clark was unable to give a response that satisfied them.
She said eight people had applied for the principal's job and Mr Cormick met the board's criteria best, after a detailed selection process.
Details of the selection criteria were confidential, she said.
The response further angered parents who called for the board to be sacked.
"They've [the board] got all our kids' futures in their hands and they've completely screwed it up," another parent said.
Mr Cormick said in a bid to create continuity in the new school, teachers from Forbury would be taken on at the new school.
Continued hostility forced Mr Cormick to leave the meeting soon after.
Meeting chairman Ian Simpson, the former Forbury board chairman, said he too was tempted to leave the meeting prematurely, given the poor behaviour of parents.
People stood on chairs and yelled at Mrs Clark and Mr Cormick.
The meeting ended with many parents declaring they would not send their children to the newly merged school next year.
After the meeting, Mrs Clark said she was glad to have had the meeting, and felt the Forbury community had been "well heard".
