Wakatipu High School held its annual junior prizegiving this week, where stand-in co-principal Paul O'Conner addressed pupils and parents, announcing he would return for the beginning of the 2012 school year.
Lyn Cooper was controversially removed from the job of principal in September by external employment lawyer Peter MacDonald, who was contracted by the Ministry of Education to sort out senior staff relationship issues.
Reappointed in November, after lodging a claim with the Employment Relations Authority, Mrs Cooper was absent yesterday.
It was understood she would finish her role at the end of this term.
Mr MacDonald told the Otago Daily Times yesterday legal limitations on him and the board of trustees meant he could not comment on this situation, but details would be sought early next week.
Mr O'Conner confirmed he would start term 1 of the school year with Wakatipu High School in an "acting principal capacity".
"My expectation is that I will be here next year.
"I hope I will.
"I would like to think there would be clarification soon."
Showing frustration at the situation, the former James Hargest High School principal of 17 years said he would be "taking a breather" and "getting fresh air" these summer holidays.
At the prizegiving, Mr O'Conner said the school had undergone a year of upheaval, but it was important for the children and parents to be proud of the school.
"We have had an upheaval of the principal leaving and perhaps an upheaval of me coming in," he said.
"I feel privileged to be an old man coming back in to do something I love, and what a great school to come into," he said.
"We can't let people dis Wakatipu High School. We have to make a big collective effort that it won't happen," he said.
"Nobody has the licence to dis Wakatipu High School." It is understood the new principal will be decided by the board of trustees and Mr MacDonald and appointed by term 2 next year.
Mr O'Conner said it was up to the children and staff to support the new principal.
"Come back here because when we get back at the end of January we are going to give it heaps," he said.
