By DEENA YELLIN, STAFF WRITER
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP The Westwood Regional School District is searching for a replacement for Washington Elementary School Principal John Smatla, who recently announced his resignation.
“He didn’t give us a reason,” said Eileen Mosolino, the Board of Education president, about Smatla’s abrupt decision.
Smatla, who had been at the school for three years, said he opted to resign rather than suffer a blot on his employment record. According to Smatla, Superintendent Geoffrey Zoeller recently told him that he would not be recommended for tenure.
“He expressed that he did not know me well,” Smatla said Monday. “He [Zoeller] was not comfortable with me. I was just not his guy. I chose to resign rather than not be rehired.”
But district officials denied Smatla’s allegations about the tenure appointment.
“That was not even up for discussion yet,” Zoeller said. “We would not have gotten around to discussing contract renewals until later in May. The issue of tenure was not discussed.”
District parents and staff, who were distraught by the news, complained and wrote letters to school officials and local newspapers, praising Smatla for his devotion to the job and urging the district to keep him.
“We sincerely feel that a grave injustice has been made to our primary concern, the education of the children at Washington School,” reads a letter sent to school officials by several parents and staff.
But district leaders said the matter was out of their hands. “We hate to lose anyone but it’s his choice,” Mosolino said. She expressed confidence that the board would find a replacement by September to head the K-4 elementary school in Washington Township.
The district has lost several staff members in recent months, fueling grumblings in the district about low morale among employees. Officials chose not to renew the contract of a Spanish teacher after three years because some in the district were not satisfied with her performance, according to Zoeller.
A high school principal is retiring after 44 years on the job, in addition to the retirement of a kindergarten teacher. A junior high school teacher is leaving because she’s getting married to someone in another state, Zoeller said.
“We have had some retirements this year, but I attribute that to nothing other than typical retirements. We’re seeing the same number of retirements as usual,” he said.
“There’s been people upset about Smatla resigning,” Zoeller said. “He’s done some positive things at the school and we wish him well. If that’s how he wants to pursue his career, than that’s what he should do.”
But Smatla says he would have stayed had he been offered tenure. He is interviewing for other positions, but said he will remain devoted to the children of his school until the end of the year.
“I’m going to work hard until the end of June,” said Smatla, who said he often comes into work on Saturdays and vacations. “I’ll continue working as hard as I can.
“My students love me. They give me artwork to hang on my door. The staff, parents and teachers have been incredible. I’m floored by their support. They’ve all been asking me to stay.”
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