MANNING, Iowa – Manning schools superintendent Roger Schmiedeskamp is drawing strong criticism from some parents for appearing semi-nude with a provocative classroom pose in a local Rotary Club fund-raising calendar.

In the 2007 calendar, Schmiedeskamp joins other Manning-area men in poses of partial and in some cases near complete disrobe, a take-off on the 2003 Golden Globes- nominated British movie “Calendar Girls” in which 12 non-model-like, middle-aged women appear naked to raise money for a hospital.

In the Manning version of the calendar, Schmiedeskamp, “Mr. August,” is superimposed in an old schoolhouse room in front of a chalkboard and behind a desk. He is shirtless and his legs are bare under the desk, giving the impression that he is naked in front of the empty classroom.

Several Manning insurance salesmen, bankers and others joined Schmiedeskamp in the calendar, which sells for $15 at various places in the community. There are 500 calendars in print.

Some parents say the charity-minded effort crosses the lines of decency and may even enter the territory of pornography.

“When I saw it I was so angry at the setting,” said Kathy Swanson, a parent and grandparent of students in the Manning school system. “A kid is supposed to be safe in the classroom. This does not portray safe. It’s sickening.”

Swanson said she’s contacted state education officials about the possibility of discipline for Schmiedeskamp.

“There definitely needs to be a reprimand,” Swanson said. “I think he needs to offer his resignation. He has compromised his position and authority.”

Gary Rieschl, a grain and livestock farmer southwest of Manning and father of two students at Manning High, said that at the very least Schmiedeskamp should offer an apology.

“What are they promoting?” Rieschl asks. “In my mind that is soft-core porn. They’re giving the impression that he’s naked behind a desk.”

Rieschl said he’s showed the calendar to other adults who have expressed similar outrage. Like Swanson, he is looking into options like a public meeting or discussions with state officials.

Manning School Board president Brian Irlbeck said there is no cause for any action with Schmiedeskamp’s decision to be in the calendar.

“As far as our thoughts as a board, he didn’t do anything wrong,” Irlbeck said.

Irlbeck believes some people in the community may be using the calendar as a red herring because they disagree with Schmiedeskamp on educational issues.

Manning is working on a whole-grade-sharing arrangement with Irwin-Kirkman-Manilla and there are many issues surrounding that move, Irlbeck said.

Unless law-enforcement or state school officials find fault with Schmiedeskamp’s role in the calendar Irlbeck is supporting the five-year Manning superintendent in this matter.

“It was done to raise some money, and he was asked to do it,” Irlbeck said. “We have told him as a board that he needs to do things in the community.”

Irlbeck noted that the Manning Rotary Club has provided funds for foreign-exchange students and scholarships for seniors heading to post-secondary education.

The Carroll Rotary Club raises money for those projects with an annual auction and dinner.

For his part, Schmiedeskamp said his intent with the appearance was entirely philanthropic and that he joined other Rotarians in a spirit of public-minded camaraderie.

“Manning’s is a relatively small Rotary club,” he said. “We don’t have a lot of members, but the people who are there are fairly active in working to support worldwide efforts as well as local efforts. We were looking for a means to support some local things.”

Several Rotarians were asked individually to be in the calendar, Schmiedeskamp recalled.

“I didn’t see anything that was inappropriate about it,” he said. “I think it’s a worthwhile cause to raise some money to help the community. I and the rest of the Rotarians don’t see anything that’s wrong with this project.”

Schmiedeskamp said “it’s definitely a possibility” that people in the community are using the calendar episode as a chance to attack him because of their disagreements with him on other matters.

He said he was never naked in a school.

The photo was superimposed, and the classroom is an old school on U.S. Highway 59 south of Denison, Schmiedeskamp said.

“I’ve never been in that building,” he said. “I was in a studio with a blank screen behind me sitting on a stool.”

Schmiedeskamp said he wore a swimsuit during the photo shoot.

“The issue is not that I appeared nude in front of students or in front of anyone,” he said. “I was never nude. It was kind of a spoof. It was something that was supposed to be a gag.”

He added, “From the photos that are there I don’t see how they would be offensive to anyone. I don’t think there is anything in there that is anywhere near what would constitute pornography. When you see the front of the calendar you know what it’s about, and it’s not any big deal.”

He said people “not interested” in the “Rotary Club of Manning Calendar Men 2007” can choose not to purchase one.

All that considered, Schmiedeskamp said he wouldn’t pose in the calendar if he could make the decision again today.

“No, I wouldn’t do it again because of the backlash in the community,” he said. “I still do not think it’s wrong.”

Manning Rotary Club president Dr. Scott Bowker, an optometrist for Vision Care Clinic in Manning, Denison, Mapleton, Onawa and Missouri Valley, also appeared in the calendar, bare-chested next to a farm pond. The calendar text says Bowker enjoys fishing.

Bowker said the Manning Rotary Club didn’t pioneer the idea for the calendar, but rather followed the lead of charities around the world that were inspired by the movie.

“It’s a satire on the ‘Calendar Girls’ concept,” Bowker said.

But he now sees that not everyone in Manning finds humor in the effort that has raised about $500 so far to benefit local parks. He said the Rotary plans to publish a “clarification” on its motivation for the calendars in the Manning Monitor newspaper.

“I do understand that some people would have concerns,” Bowker said. “The intent is not to showcase the flesh of the Rotarian. The intent is for the public good for fund-raising and Rotary.”

Carroll County Attorney John Werden said he would need to have more information on the calendar, which he has seen, and complaints from parents before making any official comment.

“I find it interesting that people in the community would participate in that sort of thing,” Werden said.