5-24-04 - After two months of controversy, the Van Alstyne school board has ended the employment of the elementary school principal.

Principal Sandra Bodack resigned after allegations by teachers that she used a Bible and Biblical references during a mandatory staff meeting.

At a meeting Monday night, board members accepted Bodack's resignation in exchange for $25,000 of her salary - roughly one-third of her pay for a year. The superintendent says it was beneficial for both sides and will protect the school from the possibility of future civil suits.

The March meeting was called by Bodack after her assistant principal's contract was not renewed. Eighteen separate complaints accused Bodack of various issues, including quoting from a Bible and admonishing her staff for failing to give the assistant principal a second chance.

Monday night, the school board would not release the details of what happened at that meeting, saying only that her statements were belittling, offensive, and threatening to the staff.