Smith v. Concordia Parish School Board

BEN C. DAWKINS, Jr., Chief Judge. RULING The Court carefully has considered the motion made for a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order filed herein in behalf of Sammy Davis, Jr., Cleveland Watts, Eddie Coleman, Clarence Hymon, and Odeal Montgomery, which was presented to it during the late afternoon of August 16th, 1971. Upon its receipt, we immediately contacted Honorable W. C. Falkenheiner, District Attorney for Concordia, and counsel for its School Board; and today have received a letter from Mr. Falkenheiner, enclosing a mass of data regarding these teachers, his letter and the original documents being attached hereto. 1 It appears that some of these teachers, pursuant to the Louisiana Teacher Tenure Law, LSA-R.S. 17:441 et seq., have had charges filed against them by the Superintendent of Schools, Ben L. Green, Jr., which clearly are not in the slightest manner connected with desegregation orders heretofore entered in this case, nor are they racially motivated, but, on the contrary, are purely for disciplinary or other apparently valid reasons concerning their conduct as teachers in the School System. Mr. Falkenheiner’s letter, and its attachments, speak for themselves and there is no need for this Court to elaborate upon them. Obviously, the procedure being followed is in strict accordance with LSA-R.S. 17:443, a photocopy thereof being attached hereto (only the portion marked by this Court in brackets being clearly unconstitutional). 2 It even appears that there is one non-tenured white teacher recommended not to be re-employed by her black principal, but who is to be afforded a hearing as if she did possess such tenure. Another non-tenured teacher, Joyce Smith, likewise is being afforded a hearing, as provided in § 443. Considering all of the circumstances disclosed by Mr. Falkenheiner’s letter and its attachments which show: That desegregation or racial motives are in no way involved in connection with the action proposed to be taken with respect to the persons mentioned in the motion, or the others not mentioned therein; that they simply are charged for apparent good cause with misconduct or incompetence in performing their duties; that they are entitled to a full, fair hearing before the School Board (either openly or in closed session, according to their own choice) and will be granted such, with provision for counsel to be present to represent them; and that, if the Board’s decision is adverse to any of them, they have a full, complete, and adequate remedy in the State Courts of Louisiana, as shown in the' statute mentioned this Court should not and will not interfere with the orderly internal administrative processes of the School Board, which is entitled properly to manage its affairs in accordance with State law. If we were to grant the relief prayed for in this motion, in every instance, in all school systems, not only in this District but nation-wide, where disciplinary or other action is necessitated by a teacher’s conduct or by other valid circumstances such as are described in Mr. Falkenheiner’s letter, this Court (and all United States District Courts where desegregation orders have been entered) literally would be flooded with similar motions, and attendant probably protracted hearings, exacerbating already overcrowded dockets, and making it virtually impossible for such Courts to perform their duties in matters in which *332 federal law requires action by them. Obviously, neither the Supreme Court, nor Congress in adopting the Civil Rights Act of 1964, ever contemplated or intended such a result. Moreover, although of no particular moment, since curative action could be taken by movants’ counsel, it is noted that he totally has failed to comply with the mandatory requirement of Rule 65(b) (2), F.R.Civ.P., in;that he has failed to certify “ * * * to the court in writing the efforts, if any, which have been made to give the notice and reasons supporting his claim that notice should not be required.” For all of these reasons, we must decline to sign the proposed Temporary Restraining Order attached to the Motion; and relegate movants to' the administrative and judicial procedures available to them under State law. Dear Judge Dawkins: After your telephone call of today, I have contacted Mr. Calhoun, President and Mr. Green, Superintendent; of the School Board. The only action taken by the School Board is shown on the attached copy of the minutes of a school board meeting on the 5th day of August; 1971. The individuals covered by that resolution are the cases which I mentioned in your office with Mr. Halpin and in my Motion for Supplemental Relief of June 3, and a resume of each case is as follows: (1) Sammy Davis, Jr., a tenured black principal against whom charges of willful neglect of duty and incompetence (3 counts) and willful neglect of duty, incompetence and dishonesty (1-count) have been filed. A copy of the charges is enclosed. A hearing under the Louisiana Tenure Law is scheduled for August 27, as shown by the letter annexed. *333 (2) Cleveland Watts, a tenured black teacher under a 3 year HC" certificate which haa expired. Mr. Watts is a resident of the State of Mississippi and is no longer the holder of a valid Louisiana teachers certificate. He is also charged with willful neglect and incompetence by his supervisors, including a black principal. A hearing is scheduled for September 2, 1971 under the Louisiana Tenure Law as shown by the attached letter. (3) Bessie Luckett, a black tenured teacher against whom charges of willful neglect of duty and incompetence have been preferred by her black principal and as shown by the copy of notice enclosed, her hearing is scheduled for 2 September, 1971. (4) Gene Fleming, is a white temporary, probationary teacher whose reemployment was not recommended by her black principal. A hearing is scheduled under the Louisiana Tenure Law for 27 August, 1971 as shown by the letter attached. In this case and the one following we are following the same procedure as to notice and hearing as in the cases of tenured teachers although the Tenure Act does not require that we go this far for the temporary people. (5) Joyce Smith, a black temporary, proo.-:tionary teacher who is single and became pregnant and whose reemployment was not recommended by her whit*- principal and as shown by the copy of the notice enclosed, her hearing is scheduled for 27 August, 1971. You mentioned to me on the phone only the cases of Davis and Watts as being of some objection to the plaintiffs. I assume that they do not object to the action taken in the other three cases. However, you gave me three other names being those of Eddie Coleman, Clarence Hymon and Odeal Montgomery. Mr. Calhoun advises me that there definitely has been no action by the school board on these people, but that a special meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, (Tuesday, Aug. 17) at which the board will discuss the problems presented to it caused by a reduction in the amount of funds being received under one of the Federal grants (I believe that he told me Title I). These three last named persons were being paid under this grant and they have been furnished notices by Mr. Green of the cut-off of these funds. *334 The Board may have to make up the loss of these funds out of its own funds, if available, or it may decide to discontinue this program and find some other positions for these persons. In addition to Coleman, Hymon and Montgomery, all of whom are black, the same problem exists with respect to Edgar Gibson who is white. Nevertheless, the board at this time has taken no action against these persons and as I understand it, does not plan to demote them but may have to change their assignments because of the cut-off in the Federal funding of the program under which they operate. It is regrettable, of course, that the board has to take disciplinary action against the five teachers first mentioned, but these problems always arise in dealing with personnel and the board cannot assume the responsibility for maintaining these persons in the responsible positions which they hold if they are in fact guilty under the law of serious charges. The Board should be allowed to continue with these hearings which are being held with proper notice and protection of the defendants. rights, subject of course to judicial review of the results. I appreciate the opportunity of furnishing this information to you. Kith vary bast wish*» Very truly yours *335 Appendix B Ch. 2 TEACHERS AND EMPLOYEES R.S. 17:443 attendance probationary, teachers should be dismissed and tenured teachers should be given preference if capable of performing services formerly performed by probationary teachers. Op. Atty.Gen.1942 — £4, p. 1519. Where schools have been consolidated and overstaffing exists, a tenure teacher who is not dismissed but merely left temporarily without employment because of overstaffing could not force dismissal of probationary teacher dtíring current school term, but at end of school term board must give preference to permanent teachers over probationary teachers in employing teachers for coming year. Op.Atty.Gen.1940-42, p. 3695. 21. Reinstatement Where relatrix was not a teacher within the Teachers’ Tenure Act, she was not entitled to be reinstated as teacher'in parish school and to be paid compensation from time of omission of her name from list of teachers, even though she had not been dismissed or discharged in conformity with the act. State ex rel. Sibley v. Ascension Parish School Bd., 1953, 222 La. 923, 64 So. 2d 221. Where probationary high school music teacher was discharged by parish school board upon written recommendation, accompanied by valid reasons therefor, of parish superintendent of schools and after due consideration by board of the reasons, this section was complied with and hence teacher was not entitled to reinstatement. State ex: rel. Meyer v. Tangipahoa Parish School Bd., App.1945, 21 So.2d 189. § 443. Removal of teachers; procedure; right to appeal A permanent teacher shall not be removed from office except upon written and signed charges of wilful neglect of duty, or incompetency or dishonesty, or of being a member of or of contributing to any group, organization, movement or corporation that is by law or injunction prohibited from operating in the state of Louisiana,|or of advocating or in any manner performing any act toward bringing about integration of the races within the public school system or any public institution of higher learning of the state of Louisiana^and then only if found guilty after a hearing by the school board of the parish or city, as the case may be, which hearing may be private or public, at the option of the teacher. At least fifteen days in advance of the date of the hearing, the school board shall furnish the teacher with a copy of the written charges. The teacher shall have the right to appear before the board with witnesses in his behalf and with counsel of his selection, all of whom shall be heard by the board at the said hearing. Nothing herein contained shall impair the right of appeal to a court of competent jurisdiction. If a permanent teacher is found guilty by a school board, after due and legal hearing as provided herein, on charges of wilful neglect of duty, or of incompetency, or dishonesty, or of being a member of or. of contributing to any group, organization, movement or corporation that is by law or injunction prohibited from operating in the state of Louisiana, or of advocating or in any manner performing any act toward bringing about integration of the races within the public school system of the state of Louisiana, and ordered removed from office, or disciplin-. *336 ed by the board, the teacher may, not more than one year from the date of the said finding, petition a court of competent jurisdiction for a full hearing to review the action of the school board, and the court shall have jurisdiction to affirm or reverse the action of the school board in the matter. If the finding of the school board is reversed by the court and the teacher is ordered reinstated and restored to duty, the teacher shall be entitled to full pay for any loss of time or salary he or she may have sustained by reason of the action of the said school board. As amended Acts 1956, No. 249, § 1. *335 461 *336 R.S. 17:443 EDUCATION Ch. 2 History and Source of Law Source: Acts 1922, No. 100, § 48. Acts 1936, No. 58, § 1. Acts 1944, No. 250, § 1. Acts 1946, No. 297, § 1, pars. 4, 5. See History and Source of Law under R.S. 17:441. The 1956 amendment added as grounds for removal, membership in. or contributing to certain prohibited groups and advocating integration of the races within schools. Comparative Laws Ala. — Code of Ala., Tit. 52, § 165. I nd. — Burns’ Ann.St. § 28-4308. Fla. — F.S.A. § 230.23. N.M. — 1953 Comp. § 73-12-15. Idaho — I.C. § 33-714. Okl. — 70 Okl.St.Ann. § 6 — 2. Law Review Commentaries Back pay and reinstatement. Melvin G. Dakin, 18 La.L.Rev. 79 (Dec.1957). 1956 legislation affecting segregation, Charles A. Reynard, 17 La.L.Rev. 101 (Dec.1956). Review of quasi-judicial action. Melvin G. Dakin, 15 La.L.Rev. 318 (Feb. 1955). Tenure, reduction in position and salary. 2 La.L.Rev. 757 (May 1940). Notes of Decisions Abolition of position 9 Membership in N.E.A. 29 Actions or suits 21 Notification of dismissal 12 Back pay 15 Powers of board In general 4 Certification of teachers 3 Prescription 25 Charges against teacher 13 Proceedings in case of dismissal in gen- Compensation 19 eral 11 Consolidations and reduction in number Reinstatement and back pay 15 of teachers 8 Removal without cause 5 Constitutionality I Resignation or voluntary termination of Construction and application 2 employment 18 Decisions under prior laws 24 Seniority in dismissal 10 Dual office holding 7 Suits 21 Evidence 28 Suspension 14 Full hearing 27 Tardiness 26 Grounds for removal or dismissal 6 Transfer to another school or position Injunction 22 17 Judicial review of removal 20 Validity I Leave of absence 16 Mandamus 23 Waiver 30 [462] Footnotes [1] See Appendix A. [2] See Appendix B.