LAYTON -- Davis School District has placed Layton High School's principal on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
Paul C. Smith, of Kaysville, was placed on leave of absence Monday, said Christopher Williams, Davis School District's community relations director.
Assistant Principal Muriel Mann has been named acting principal at Layton High, which has a student enrollment of 1,683. An e-mail was sent to Layton faculty members and staff Tuesday morning, announcing Smith's leave of absence and his replacement.
Also, Leslie "Cookie" Barker, head office secretary, retired effective Tuesday. Shauna Lund, the district's community relations specialist, declined to comment whether there was an investigation concerning Barker.
Smith confirmed he is on administrative paid leave of absence, but declined to comment on the investigation, saying, "I need to find out what the district is willing to release. I'm not reluctant to talk to you, but I need to talk to (the district)."
Williams said he could not comment on why the district is investigating Smith, who has been the principal of the 43-year-old school since 1979.
Smith has worked for the district since 1961 and has received numerous awards.
He receives approximately $88,000 annually in salary, Lund said.
Williams declined to comment on whether the Smith investigation is related to the district's ongoing investigation into choir teacher Joseph Everton, 62, who married an 18-year-old former Layton High student who graduated in the spring.
Steve Handy, a member of the school's community council, said he had been unaware that Smith was placed on leave until he was contacted by the Standard-Examiner.
"I don't know why," he said about the district's investigation into Smith. "This is bad. This is horrible news."
Police have not been asked to conduct a criminal investigation concerning Smith, said Layton Police Lt. Quinn Moyes.
"No complaint or allegation has been filed from the school district," Moyes said. "There is no active investigation going on."
Moyes said if and when the district files a complaint, detectives will investigate.
Layton Mayor Steve Curtis said his five children attended the high school. One son is the school football team's defensive line coach.
He was unaware of the district's investigation but said, "Paul (Smith) and I have not always seen eye to eye on things, but he was always willing to sit down and talk. I know I was listened to. I didn't always get my way, but I was listened to."
Updated 11:26 p.m.
__________________________________________________________________________
LAYTON -- Davis School District has placed Layton High School's principal on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
Paul C. Smith, of Kaysville, was placed on leave of absence Monday, said Christopher Williams, Davis School District's community relations director.
Assistant Principal Muriel Mann has been named acting principal at Layton High, which has a student enrollment of 1,683. An e-mail was sent to Layton faculty members and staff Tuesday morning, announcing Smith's leave of absence and his replacement.
Smith confirmed he is on administrative paid leave of absence, but declined to comment on the investigation, saying, "I need to find out what the district is willing to release. I'm not reluctant to talk to you, but I need to talk to (the district)."
Williams said he could not comment on why the district is investigating Smith, who has been the principal of the 43-year-old school since 1979.
Smith has worked for the district since 1961 and has received numerous awards.
He receives approximately $88,000 annually in salary, said Shauna Lund, the district's community relations specialist.
The Smith investigation is not related to the district's ongoing investigation into choir teacher Joseph Everton, 62, who married an 18-year-old former Layton High student who graduated in the spring, Williams said.
Steve Handy, a member of the school's community council, said he had been unaware that Smith was placed on leave until he was contacted by the Standard-Examiner.
"I don't know why," he said about the district's investigation into Smith.
"This is bad," Handy said. "This is horrible news."
Police have not been asked to conduct a criminal investigation concerning Smith, said Layton Police Lt. Quinn Moyes.
"No complaint or allegation has been filed from the school district," Moyes said. "There is no active investigation going on."
Moyes said if and when the district files a complaint, detectives will investigate.
Layton Mayor Steve Curtis said his five children attended the high school. One son is the school football team's defensive line coach.
He was unaware of the district's investigation, but said, "Paul (Smith) and I have not always seen eye to eye on things, but he was always willing to sit down and talk. I know I was listened to. I didn't always get my way, but I was listened to."
Comments