A student suspended from St Edmund's College earlier this year for trying to organise a strike says the resignation of principal Daniel Lawler now makes the position of school board chair Michael Cooney "untenable".
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Mr Cooney, who earlier this year suggested Mr Lawler had the full support of the board, has declined to comment about the claim.
Former St Edmund's Year 12 student John-Paul Romano was suspended for a total of 14 days earlier this year when he tried to organise the student strike to protest changes made under the tenure of Mr Lawler, including to the school uniform and crest.
When The Canberra Times revealed John Paul's suspension for "bringing the college into disrepute", it also led to a raft of concerns being raised by current parents and former students at the school, upset by what they believed was Mr Lawler's dictatorial leadership style.
John-Paul said this week he hoped the school could now move forward but believed there was still unfinished business with the leadership of its board.
"Although too late for me, as I have left the school, I am pleased that these matters have resolved and that the school community will now be able to move forward and continue to thrive as it has for the past 63 years," he said.
"The thousands of young men that have passed through the school before me were always taught to stand up and fight for what they believed in, without fear or favour, and I am satisfied that the stand I took was in the best interests of the school.
"We must always remember that St Edmunds's is bigger than any one individual and belongs to the entire 'Eddie's Community'.
"I would like to thank Edmund Rice Education Australia, in particular, Dr Wayne Tinsey, for his time in meeting with me to hearing my concerns.
"Conversely, I am disappointed that the current board chair, Mr Michel Cooney, immediately went on record in support of Mr Lawler, purporting to speak on behalf of the current board.
"I expect his position in that role is now untenable."
Mr Cooney in the wake of the suspension, publicly defended Mr Lawler and said he had the full support of the board.
That was despite two board members earlier being asked to leave after raising concerns internally and with Edmund Rice Education Australia about the school administration's alleged lack of consultation and decision-making.
Mr Cooney in response to John-Paul's claims said this week: "Thanks for the opportunity to respond, but no comment from me".
John-Paul maintains party politics are not his driving force, but rather maintaining the history and tradition of the school and ensuring everyone had a voice in its future.
Mr Cooney is a Labor Party figure, previously working for then prime minister Julia Gillard, chief minister Andrew Barr and Labor's Chifley Research Centre. He is now national director of the Australian Republican Movement.
Seventeen-year-old John-Paul, who has links to the Liberal Party, said he was not motivated by politics or any particular grievance against Mr Cooney.
"There are no politics here, just someone who said they had the full support of the board when they didn't and has now backflipped on where he originally stood," he said.
"Michael and Dad went to school together at Eddie's one year apart and Michael and I both attend the same church."
John-Paul said he was allowed back to St Edmund's to complete two of four exams, but was not permitted to attend any physical classes. He had enough points to complete his Year 12 certificate and was now studying bachelor degrees in commerce and security studies through Open Universities.
"I hope to be able to give back to the St Edmund's community by assisting in whatever capacity they would like me, and I thank the dedicated staff, past and present, for the robust education and mentoring that has formed me into the person I am today," he said.
