ADVERSE EMPLOYMENT ACTIONS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL ...

for cause to have been correct and that the amount of the missing funds was important in that
determination.
Smith also argued that he was not required to continually manage the financial records of
the school; he only needed to establish the procedures for doing so. This argument was ill-taken
as well. The court reasoned that the state legislature intended for its requirements of school
administrators to be ongoing in § 16-24B-4, Ala. Code 1975, and not one-time affairs.
U.S. Dist.).
Disposition: The judgment was affirmed.
Citation: Lassiter v. Topeka Unified School District No. 501, 347 F. Supp. 2d 1033, (2004
Key Facts: Lassiter served the Topeka Unified School District for more than 30 years
without one employment blemish on her record. However, a group of teachers raised false
allegations (the content of which was never disclosed) while Lassiter was serving as principal of
Quixton Elementary School. The allegations were made in March 2002 to the Director of
Elementary Education, Barbara Davis. Lassiter was made aware of the allegations on May 13,
2002, during a year-end meeting with then Superintendent of Schools, Robert McFrazier.
Lassiter sought advice on how to handle the situation from McFrazier, and she also requested an
investigation into the false allegations. McFrazier did not approve an investigation at that
juncture and did not offer her any advice or specific instructions on how to handle the matter
with her faculty and staff.
At her staff meeting 2 days later, Lassiter explained to her staff that an investigation into
the allegations would be conducted. She was suspended by the district on that same day without
reasons provided. She was allowed to return to work on May 20. On June 6, a formal
investigation began and concluded on June 17. The investigator explained to Lassiter that the
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