Trustees of the N.C. School of Science & Mathematics voted Wednesday to formally receive a commission's critical report, but that did not mean they necessarily agreed with it.

No one, during the special meeting at the school's Durham campus, endorsed the report wholeheartedly, and some trustees used words such as "snookered" to describe their misgivings and even feelings of betrayal.

For a document that purported to correct unfairness, some trustees said, the report perpetrated one in its blunt criticisms of the school's executive director, John Friedrick.

Several trustees also said they regretted that the report was released publicly and was featured in newspapers as far away as Richmond, Va., earlier this month, before they had a chance to read it. Trustee Randy Gregory proposed a vote of confidence on Friedrick, and the board closed the meeting to consider it. After more than two hours, they reopened the meeting and instead unanimously-adopted a broad statement of commitment to address points of the report and to work toward its overall goals -- with Friedrick and other school staff and students.

Chairman William Massey said the group decided no evaluation of Friedrick's performance was necessary beyond the routine ones that he undergoes, nor was one within the commission's stated purpose.

John Thomas, the trustee who said he felt "snookered" by the report, said its criticisms of Friedrick also appeared to contradict the commission's assurance-in February that it wouldn't make any personnel recommendations. He suggested rejecting the report out of hand as vague, inaccurate on some points and "grossly unfair" to Friedrick.

Most trustees agreed the references to Friedrick were too pointed. But they also said they saw some value in many of the report's findings, even those that described unattributed "perceptions" about the state-supported high school for juniors and seniors.

"Be careful what you ask for, because you might get it," Trustee Oscar Blanks said. The fact that the report didn't square with trustees' expectations didn't necessarily invalidate its findings, Blanks said.

Several trustees also said they respected the hard work and good intentions of commission members, who volunteered their time over nine months. They conducted several public and private meetings at the school and solicited information and opinions by mail.

The trustees divided into teams to work on points raised by the report's section on the board of trustees. They plan to take another look at those issues at the board's next meeting on May 1.