ADVERSE EMPLOYMENT ACTIONS AND PUBLIC SCHOOL ...

Appeal (1962) in that if these charges were made without investigation then they were
unwarranted and must be dismissed. All actions by the board were of a public nature and Lomas
was notified of her opportunity to speak on each occasion.
Disposition: The order of the court was affirmed.
Citation: Williams v. Seattle School District No. 1, 643 P.2d 426 (1982 Wash.).
Key Facts: On May 15, 1979, Lucille Williams and various other teachers were informed
that they were being moved from their positions as vice-principals back to teachers for the next
school year. These reassignments were made as part of a reduction-in-force policy due to
declining enrollment. Due to principal complaints about the lack of support with the loss of vice-
principals, Seattle School District No. 1 created a “head teacher position” so that principals
would have assistants. However, only one of the displaced vice-principals was appointed to the
position.
In January 1980, respondents met with the school district about these changes but the
board upheld the superintendent’s decisions. Thereafter, respondents filed suit claiming that the
board was breaching the state constitution through RCW 28A.67.073, which sets forth that no
court of appeals can overturn the board of directors’ decision for reassignment. The trial court
found this language to be unconstitutional.
Issues: (1) Is the language used in RCW 28A.67.073 constitutional? (2) The respondents
claimed that they were not given preferential consideration in regard to head teacher roles. (3)
The respondents claimed that they were not notified of the decision in an appropriate manner.
Reasoning: The trial court found that the language of RCW 28A.67.073 was
unconstitutional in so much that it prevented judicial review. That is to say that the law
precluded judicial intervention in decisions made by the school board on the matter of
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