DALLAS -- The McKinney North High School cheerleading scandal made national news this week.

The cheerleading coach who blew the whistle appeared Thursday on ABC’s “Good Morning America,” and Newsweek magazine’s web site tells the story that ultimately left the principal and assistant principal without jobs. The article is entitled ‘Mean Girls’ with the subhead: ‘Boozing, bikinis and bullying: how the scandalous behavior of five high school cheerleaders rocked a bedroom community near Dallas.’

Previous stories

Oct 7: Cheer coach quits over conflicts

Dec 8: Cheer mess a team effort

Dec 22: Leaders in McKinney cheer dispute to leave

Dec 26: Grievance filed in cheer scandal

VIDEO: Oct 7: Cheer coach quits over conflict

The ABC News headline isn’t much better: ‘Cheerleaders Gone Wild’.

Both stories portray the so-called “Fab Five” cheerleaders at McKinney High school as girls who acted as though they could get away with anything and thumbed their noses at authority.

Former coach Micheala Ward appeared on Thursday’s “Good Morning America” described the girls as “untouchable” and “invincible.”

“There was no accountability,” Ward said. “They knew that I had absolutely no power to discipline.”

Part of the problem, it seemed, was that one cheerleader’s parent was also the school principal.

Ward quit her job in October 2006 and went public with her reasons. 

That set off a firestorm of controversy and eventually led to an investigation, a scathing report, and a settlement agreement that called for principal Linda Theret to resign and paid her $75,000.  The assistant principal was also told his contract would not be renewed.