AllMovie

There's a new teacher in town, and as the Sugar Creek Gang tries to make sense of his strange peccadillos while staying out of trouble, a fire at the schoolhouse gets everyone in town talking in the fifth installment of the popular children's film series. A stern educator with a knack for photography and an ominous collection of beech switches hanging on his classroom wall, Mr. Black means business when he launches into his daily lessons. Meanwhile, Bill has made a false accusation, and after getting into a heap of trouble with his parents, the gang attempts to find out who poisoned Mr. Black's prized horse. As if a new teacher and a sick horse weren't enough to keep the rumor mill flowing in Sugar Creek, a Sunday afternoon schoolhouse fire threatens to spell major trouble unless the kids can get to the bottom of the case quickly.