FISHERS, Ind. -- Fishers High School Principal Scott Syverson (pictured) was suspended with pay Friday after he was charged with drunken driving, and the Hamilton Southeastern school board said it will meet in February to discuss whether to fire him.

The board announced the suspension after discussing the situation for three hours Friday, 6News' Jennifer Carmack reported. Syverson's suspension will run until the board meets Feb. 7 to discuss his future.

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Fishers police Officer Kevin Kobli stopped Syverson on suspicion of drunken driving Dec. 22 but drove him home instead of arresting him. Syverson was charged with two misdemeanor drunken-driving counts on Thursday, with the Hamilton County prosecutor saying a video recorded by a camera in Kobli's car offered enough evidence.

The school board watched the video of the traffic stop before suspending Syverson.

"Due to the nature of what has occurred and the events that played out through the media, I thought it was in the best interests of the students, the staff (and) the faculty that he be removed at this time from his leadership role," Superintendent Concetta Raimondi said.

Assistant principal Jason Urban will serve as acting principal until February, officials said.

Board members said they need to consider Syverson's effectiveness as a leader after the incident.

"The school board is not concerned about the private lives of its employees unless their actions impact their effectiveness in being able to do their job," said David Day, the school district's attorney. "That's ultimately the question the board will have to wrestle with."

Day said an educator can be "terminated from their position for things like immorality, insubordination, other good and just causes, etc."

"This school district specifically has a policy that talks about off-duty conduct," Day said.

Hamilton County prosecutor Sonia Leerkamp said the video, which showed Syverson stumbling as he attempted several sobriety tests, provided enough evidence to charge him.

Syverson had been at a holiday party thrown by Raimondi on the night of the traffic stop. She said he was not intoxicated when he left the party, and two school employees -- an athletic trainer and another Hamilton Southeastern principal -- backed that account on Friday.

The employees said they were at a bar in Marion County with Syverson for about two hours after the superintendent's party. The names of the other employees involved were not released.

Students rallied Thursday night in support of the embattled principal.

"I knew it was something he wasn't going to be proud of," student Ellen Hoppe said. "Who would be proud of something like that, especially with it being on YouTube and … all over the media? I'm sure he's just mortified."

Students gathered more than 150 signatures and said they hope Syverson's support would be considered during the board meeting.

"He gave me a second chance when I got in a little trouble when I was first elected," said Michael Dunn, senior class president. "He gave me a second chance, so I decided to fight for his."

Students said that despite Syverson's mistake, he cares about them.

"Always comes up with a smile -- never see him in a bad mood," student Nate Wiersema said. "Always shaking hands, always positive. Never puts anyone down."

Discipline Weighed For Police Captain Embroiled In Controversy

Fishers police Capt. Dave Dunbar could face discipline because of the incident.

During the traffic stop, Syverson got out of his car and was on the phone to Dunbar. The phone was then handed to Kobli, who had initiated the stop.

Some believe that call influenced the officer to take Syverson home instead of to jail. The Fishers Police Department already has said Kobli will not be disciplined.

"The captain came forward and told him he could do that. He said, 'I am the one to blame,'" Fishers police Sgt. Ed Gebhart said. "As far as discipline for the captain, that's been taken under advisement. That decision has not been made yet."