West Salem elementary principal’s rough tenure comes to end

Principal Smalley resigned Monday

West Salem Elementary School’s principal John Smalley resigned Monday, after the board met to discuss disciplinary action.

The reasoning for his resignation was not released, but Smalley’s tenure was not a quiet one.

The board had previously put the 1983 Aquinas High School graduate on administrative leave for a domestic disturbance and investigated him for an alleged extra-marital affair. He was fired in 2008.

But, Smalley ended up suing the school district over the handling of the investigation in federal court and received a settlement of $140,000.

In 2014, Smalley was put on a 30-day unpaid suspension after being cited for OWI and causing property damage.

The district is looking for an interim principal. The hopes are to fill the position permanently in the spring.