McKenzie v. Webster Parish School Bd.

653 So. 2d 215, 1995 La. App. LEXIS 785, 1995 WL 146282
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedApril 5, 1995
Docket26713-CA
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 653 So. 2d 215 (McKenzie v. Webster Parish School Bd.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
McKenzie v. Webster Parish School Bd., 653 So. 2d 215, 1995 La. App. LEXIS 785, 1995 WL 146282 (La. Ct. App. 1995).

Opinion

653 So.2d 215 (1995)

Gerald W. McKENZIE, Plaintiff-Appellant,
v.
WEBSTER PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, Defendant-Appellee.

No. 26713-CA.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Second Circuit.

April 5, 1995.
Rehearing Denied May 4, 1995.

*216 Jon K. Guice, Monroe, for appellant.

Patrick M. Amedee, Joseph M. Bertrand, New Orleans, for appellee.

Before NORRIS and HIGHTOWER, JJ., and CULPEPPER, J. Pro Tem.

CULPEPPER, Judge Pro Tem.

Plaintiff, Gerald W. McKenzie, appeals a judgment in favor of defendant, Webster Parish School Board (School Board), in plaintiff's action for alleged wrongful termination. McKenzie, a probationary teacher, asserts his termination violated LSA-R.S. 17:391.5 and the School Board's own policies. Because the School Board complied with LSA-R.S. 17:391.5 and substantially complied with its policies pertaining to evaluation, assessment, remediation and dismissal of probationary teachers, we affirm.

FACTS

The School Board hired McKenzie in August 1985 to serve as a high school social studies teacher and coach at Sarepta High School. McKenzie taught under a series of *217 one year "probationary" contracts until May 1988. From August 1985 to May 1988, McKenzie was evaluated sixteen times by Fulton Jones, the principal, and Cleve Strong and Ray Burnham, supervisors of secondary education.

On June 6, 1988, McKenzie was notified by letter that his contract would not be renewed due to his inability to improve his "classroom management techniques." In a letter dated June 20, 1988, the principal recommended to the superintendent that McKenzie's contract not be renewed because of his low evaluations. On July 5, 1988, the superintendent informed McKenzie by letter that the superintendent would recommend to the school board his contract not be renewed because of deficient classroom management. On July 25, 1988, the School Board elected not to renew McKenzie's contract.

McKenzie sued the School Board asserting wrongful termination, violation of the state accountability statutes and failure to abide by the School Board's policy on evaluation, remediation and termination. The School Board filed a motion for summary judgment which was granted by the trial court. On appeal, this court held McKenzie's termination was governed by LSA-R.S. 17:442 and found the School board did not abuse its discretion. However, this court went on to hold LSA-R.S. 17:391.5(C) did apply to probationary teachers and remanded the case to the trial court for a determination of whether McKenzie's evaluation and dismissal were proper under LSA-R.S. 17:391.5 and the School Board's policies. For a detailed exposition of the facts and procedural history see this court's opinion McKenzie v. Webster Parish School Board, 609 So.2d 1028 (La. App. 2d Cir.1992).

At the second trial, McKenzie testified that Cleve Strong, supervisor for secondary education, observed his class during the 1985 school year. In October 1985, Mr. Strong indicated on the observation and evaluation sheet: "Discipline is not bad, but class control will pay off later on." In December 1985, Strong wrote McKenzie did not show enough enthusiasm for teaching and suggested he stand and move around the room while teaching.

On May 13, 23, 28, 1986, Fulton Jones, the principal, observed McKenzie's class. On May 13 and 23, Jones noted some students were not involved in the lesson and were working on other projects. On May 28, Jones wrote: "Mr. McKenzie was administering a test in free enterprise class. He moved from desk to desk observing the students work. The class was quiet and orderly."

The evaluation forms discussed thus far did not provide for a rating to be given to the teacher. The evaluations forms were changed in 1986 to provide the evaluators an opportunity to rate the teacher as satisfactory, needs improvement or unsatisfactory.

In November 1986, Jones evaluated McKenzie using the new form. Under the heading "Establishes and Maintains Class Control in an Atmosphere Conducive to Learning" Jones circled needs improvement and noted too little classroom control. In all other areas Jones rated McKenzie satisfactory and gave him and overall rating of satisfactory. In February 1987, March 1987, May 1987, May 1988, McKenzie received identical evaluations from Jones. Each evaluation sheet reflects McKenzie received a satisfactory rating in every category except classroom control which was noted as needs improvement. McKenzie's overall rating was satisfactory. On April 25, 1988, Jones gave McKenzie a satisfactory rating in every category including classroom control. On April 27, 1988, Jones rated McKenzie satisfactory in every category, but gave him a needs improvement on the overall rating and wrote to the side "in discipline."

McKenzie also recalled being observed by Mr. Ray Burnham. In October 1986, Burnham documented McKenzie needed to improve his overall positive attitude. Burnham wrote: "Discipline good, but class not very conducive to learning. Absolutely no life in presentation." Burnham also noted McKenzie needed improvement in lesson planning and teaching. Burnham gave McKenzie an overall rating of needs improvement. In October 1987, Burnham rated McKenzie satisfactory in every category except classroom control in which he gave McKenzie a needs *218 improvement. The overall rating was satisfactory. In February 1988, Burnham again noted McKenzie needed improvement in lesson planning and the use of various instructional methods. Class control was given a satisfactory rating, but the overall rating was needs improvement. In March 1988, Burnham again noted McKenzie needed improvement in class control, lesson planning and instruction of the students and gave McKenzie an overall rating of needs improvement. McKenzie testified he was never given an Assistance Schedule, never given a deadline to improve his classroom control and was never told the School Board was invoking an assistance program.

Cleve Strong testified that he gave McKenzie the observation sheet but was not familiar with an assistance schedule. During the cross examination of Mr. Strong, the defense stipulated that Mr. McKenzie was never given an assistance schedule.

Ray Burnham testified that following his observation of McKenzie he informed him of the areas in which he should work to improve and suggested strategies and techniques to help him. Burnham testified his observations revealed more severe problems than the observation of Jones; however, the two never documented their differences of opinion concerning McKenzie. Burnham also admitted the observation form is distinct from the assistance schedule and that no professional assistance schedule was prepared to help remediate McKenzie.

Fulton Jones testified he observed McKenzie on several occasions and gave him a satisfactory rating on almost every occasion. Jones stated that although McKenzie received a satisfactory rating, classroom control was an ongoing problem. Jones also admitted no assistance schedule was prepared for McKenzie.

Ralph Rentz, personnel director, testified McKenzie was given a remediation plan, pursuant to School Board policy, every year he taught. However, during his pre-trial deposition, Rentz testified that no remediation plan was ever given to McKenzie. Rentz admitted a "formal" assistance schedule was not prepared. It was Rentz's position that the evaluation and observation forms were sufficient to comply with School Board policy.

Finally, Jerry Lott, the superintendent, testified no assistance schedule was prepared for McKenzie because the information was contained in other documents.

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653 So. 2d 215, 1995 La. App. LEXIS 785, 1995 WL 146282, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mckenzie-v-webster-parish-school-bd-lactapp-1995.