Hank Smith, South Olive Elementary School Principal now wants to keep his job

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla -- South Olive Elementary school principal, Hank Smith, has retracted his previous statement that he would plan on retiring July 1.

Smith sent a letter to Superintendent Wayne Gent and asked that he retract his previous letter.

He said he now wants to be allowed to work through his contract, which expires June 30, 2015.
 
For the past few weeks, tensions have mounted between Smith and school board member Jennifer Prior Brown.

Smith has said that Brown is a bully and oversteps her authority.  He claims she read internal emails and threatened teachers.

Brown spoke out for the first time during a school board meeting Wednesday night. She said that teachers and parents have the right to get down to the bottom of what's going on, but won't comment until an internal investigation on Brown is complete.

It's still unclear what the real issue is, but parents say they stand behind him. Dozens have signed a petition in support of him.

Both parties have been directed not to comment.