They said it couldn’t be done. They didn’t think he would do it. They were wrong.

On Thursday afternoon as students were dismissed from Center School, they stepped outside to find Assistant Principal Kevin Tavares on the roof, which was just where he said he would be if they could exceed his donation of 480 canned goods for a local food pantry.

The students delivered, bringing in more than 800 cans. Those cans were in addition to the 1,700 students at both schools collected over the course of the year as part of a challenge from the health office.

Tavares decided to contribute his winnings from a health challenge among the staff to purchase more nonperishable food. Spending the night on the roof was all his idea.

“I have a great view up here. It’s beautiful,” said Tavares as kids waved to him from his perch on the second story roof.

“He’s really up there,” said one kid.

“Are you gonna sleep up there?” asked another.

Marissa Hughes, a member of the Center School staff joked that the roof was a perfect place for husbands.

“I think it’s a great idea. We should put all of our husbands up there! It’s genius!”

With a tent, a chair and an air mattress, Tavares was pretty well set up for his night on the roof. He even had a bucket to lower if anyone brought him treats throughout the night….at least we think that’s what the bucket was for.

Anyone who has passed Center School may notice that most of the roof is rather steep. Tavares is on a flat patch covered in rocks just out side the computer room window on the front of the building.

In addition to the students and staff, his daughter Callie, wife Monica and parents were gathered around the front of the school to see Mr. T’s setup.

His mother Carol brought a box of canned goods to contribute and said her son is following in the footsteps of his father, a former principal.

“It’s the kind of thing he used to do,” she said of her husband. “They definitely have a heart for children.”

Callie, 11, looked up in awe at her dad on the roof and said, “I think it’s crazy, but I think he’s doing a good thing.”

Monica admitted she thought her husband was joking when he told her about “Mr. T’s Challenge.”

“I didn’t believe him at first because he’s not too fond of heights,” she said.

Once everyone cleared out, Tavares admitted, “I won’t be peering over the edge that often.”

Instead, he planned to get some work done while enjoying the evening breeze and waving at passersby.

Tavares was surprised during the night when a television news crew showed up along with fire and police. They brought the donation total up to 1,179.

Mr. T stayed on the roof until after the buses dropped off children Friday morning.