GLASFORD, Ill. – A central Illinois grade school principal has resigned less than a month after he was charged with raping a 20-year-old woman at a party near his home, school officials said.

John C. Walker, 42, principal of Illini Bluffs Elementary School since 2002, had been suspended with pay since July 16, when he was charged with aggravated criminal sexual assault in the alleged attack.

The Illini Bluffs school board accepted Walker’s resignation Tuesday after reaching an agreement with his attorney, Kevin Sullivan, officials said. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Walker earned about $78,000 a year under a three-year contract he signed early last month.

“Something needed to be done to start the healing process,” said board vice president Dennis Brown.

Sullivan said Walker maintains his innocence, but offered his resignation “to spare the school district, the community and his family” as his court case proceeds.

Authorities allege Walker raped a woman who graduated two years ago from the high school in this small district southwest of Peoria. The woman told police Walker attacked her when she went to a bedroom to lie down after feeling sick during a July 14 party in Walker’s neighborhood.

Walker, who is free on $7,500 bail, is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in Peoria County court.

His arrest is the second this year involving staff in the district of about 1,000 students.

Ian McDonald, 31, resigned as a high school teacher and boys varsity basketball coach in March after being charged with sexual assault stemming from an alleged seven-month relationship with a student. McDonald remains in Peoria County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court again Aug. 17.