Potter v. Richland School District No. 400

534 P.2d 577, 13 Wash. App. 316, 1975 Wash. App. LEXIS 1345
Court of Appeals of Washington·Decided April 22, 1975·No. 892-3·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

McInturff, C.J.

Plaintiff was employed by the Rich-land School Board (hereafter school board) to teach music at Columbia High School. He has taught music since 1965. *317 At the end of the 1971-72 school year Potter was assigned to teach music at the elementary level due to a levy failure. Since he would have no school activities in the evenings he committed himself to play professionally at various Elks Clubs. In October 1972 plaintiff signed a supplemental contract to supervise the band during evening football and basketball games on the weekend. The principal, Mr. Nash, was accordingly informed of possible conflicts and suggested that plaintiff make an agreement with another music teacher to take his place at the games if he were unable to attend.

On two occasions plaintiff attended the games up to half time and then left due to prior commitments, leaving the keys to the music department with a student band director to give to his replacement teacher, Mr. Ted Baer. Mr. Baer did not show up on two occasions and the students were left with no direct teacher supervision. The first occasion occurred on November 10, 1972, when plaintiff left a football game at half time. Mr. Baer testified he had informed plaintiff that he would be unable to attend the game that evening. The second absence occurred on December 1,1972, when plaintiff left a basketball jamboree at half time. Mr. Baer stated that there could have been a misunderstanding on this latter occasion because of the manner communications were exchanged between the two. Mr. Baer testified that he “stuck [his] head in the office door where [plaintiff] was talking to a student, and told him I wouldn’t be able to be at the game that night.”

Board policy adopted March 29, 1959, required an annual appraisal of each employee which was to be the “subject of individual discussion between the employee and supervisor involved.” The principal gave the plaintiff his annual appraisal on December 1, 1972 (the day of the second incident) , but it was not discussed at that time. The evaluation summary indicated that plaintiff needed to improve his supervision over students and equipment. When the principal, Mr. Nash, discovered that Potter failed to show up at *318 the second game, it was at that time that he decided to recommend to the superintendent, Robert Eiler, that Potter be discharged. 1

On January 15, 1973, the school board passed a resolution based upon the recommendation of the superintendent to discharge Mr. Potter. A notice was sent to the plaintiff informing him that the board had determined that there was “probable cause” to discharge plaintiff. The notice specified the causes for discharge. 2

Mr. Potter requested a closed hearing, 3 which was held on February 14, 1973. In a 3 to 2 decision the board terminated plaintiff’s contract effective February 16, 1973. Plaintiff appealed to the Superior Court and a trial de novo was held. 4

The trial court determined that the following causes were supported by sufficient evidence to discharge Mr. Potter under RCW 28A.58.450;

(1) Failure to adequately supervise students assigned to the plaintiff;
(2) Lack of proper concern for the security of District facilities and equipment;
(3) Failure to perform duties as specified in the supplemental contract; and
*319 (4) Failure to meet classes at scheduled times.

The court found that the plaintiff was absent from the November 10 football game and the December 1 basketball jamboree; that plaintiff’s lack of supervision was specifically brought to his attention on December 1; that there were other instances in which plaintiff failed to supervise students or school property during the 1972-73 school year; that lack of supervision of the band during athletic contests was also a problem during the 1971-72 school year; that the plaintiff knew there was no adult who would have supervised for him during his absence from the games; that he knew his responsibilities under his contract and voluntarily chose not to assume them; and that these acts constituted a breach of his contract, providing sufficient grounds for his discharge by the school board. Mr. Vandenberg, principal of Columbia High School and on a leave of absence for 1 year at the time of the trial, testified that he had placed Mr. Potter on probation during the 1970-71 school year in an effort to overcome problems similar to those that occurred during the 1972-73 school year. 5

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Potter v. Richland School District No. 400, 534 P.2d 577, 13 Wash. App. 316, 1975 Wash. App. LEXIS 1345 (Wash. Ct. App. 1975).

534 P.2d 577 (Potter v. Richland School District No. 400) — published by Counsel Stack Legal Research, free access to 12M+ legal documents.

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