LAYTON -- Layton High School Principal Paul C. Smith has been reassigned to Bountiful Junior High School, says the president of the Davis School District School Board.
"I am aware he has been reassigned as assistant principal at Bountiful Junior High School," said Marian Storey.
Storey said she does not know if Smith has accepted the reassignment.
Smith said he could not comment on his position.
Calls made to cell phones and homes of Superintendent Bryan Bowles, an assistant Davis School District superintendent and Community Relations Director Chris Williams were not immediately returned. Davis School District offices are closed until Jan. 4.
"I have known Paul Smith for many years, and he's an honest and decent man," Storey said.
"Putting him on administrative leave had nothing to do with his integrity or character. However, the district has deemed it appropriate to reassign him."
Smith, who has been at Layton High School for the past 30 years, was placed on administrative leave Oct. 12, pending an internal investigation.
Layton resident Vicki Lewis is a friend of Smith.
She said she learned, from friends who teach at Layton High School, that district officials met with the school's faculty and staff Friday to announce the reassignment.
The teachers told her they wanted Smith back and were upset about the announcement.
Lewis said if Smith had been cleared of any wrongdoing, the district should put him back at the school and not reassign him.
Lewis also said it would put a favorable light on the district to put him back at the school.
Her children also attended Layton High School, she said, and "they loved him."
Lewis said assigning Smith as an assistant principal "is literally shameful."
She said it would "instill faith in the district and trust back in the schools if the district (officials) would just let him go back (to Layton High School)."
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