ADVERSE EMPLOYMENT ACTIONS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL ...

the court overturned the decision of the board. Upon appeal from the board, the district court’s
decision was affirmed by the Court of Appeals. This affirmation would later be vacated due to a
technical error by the court. This appeal followed.
Issues: (1) Did the district have statutory authority to terminate Martinek’s contract? (2)
Did the terms of Martinek’s contract allow her to be dismissed?
Holding: The court held that the district court’s ruling overturning Martinek’s termination
was the correct ruling despite the technical error.
Reasoning: Based on the construction of Iowa Code § 279.24, the board did not have the
authority to terminate Martinek’s contract mid-term without just cause. While financial
constraints are just cause for termination, the board had to show good cause for doing so which it
never did. The board further argued that Martinek’s contract allowed for mid-term termination
without cause. However, the contractual underpinnings are linked directly to Iowa Code § 279.24
thereby making the “good cause” claim moot. The district did not have the statutory or
contractual right to terminate Martinek’s contract mid-term.
affirmed.
App.).
Disposition: The appellate ruling was vacated and the judgment of the district court was
Citation: Simpson v. Holmes County Board of Education, 2 So. 3d 799, (2009 Miss.
Key Facts: Simpson was the principal of Williams-Sullivan High School. The events of
Friday, February 24, 2006, however, would lead to the end of Simpson’s term. On this day, three
incidents occurred on campus while State Board of Education personnel were on campus to
conduct an audit and attend a Black History Month program.
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