Invercargill's Salford School was justified in sacking former principal Marlene Campbell earlier this year, the Employment Relations Authority says.
In an authority ruling released today, member Michael Loftus said investigations upon Ms Campbell's dismissal found she had been largely responsible for an unhealthy working environment at the school.
However, the authority also found Ms Campbell was suspended without justification, and ordered the school to pay her $5000.
Mr Loftus said that was because Ms Campbell had not been given a fair hearing when the decision to suspend her was made.