Danna Braaksma
v.
Board of Directors of the Sibley-Ocheyedan Community School District
Petitioner appealed from a district court ruling on judicial review affirming a decision by respondent terminating her teaching contract. Petitioner contended the court erred in affirming the decision because the action: (1) violated respondent’s policies and the terms of her contract; (2) violated Iowa law by not allowing her to complete an intensive assistance program; and (3) was unsupported by a preponderance of the competent evidence in the record. The court of appeals reversed, finding petitioner’s termination violated Iowa Code section 284.8, the teaching contract, and respondent’s policies. Respondent requests further review.
Resister
Danna Braaksma
Applicant
Board of Directors of the Sibley-Ocheyedan Community School District
Attorney for the Resister
Christy A.A. Hickman
Attorney for the Applicant
Stephen F. Avery
Supreme Court
Oral Argument Schedule
15-15-5
Sep 14, 2022 9:00 AM
Briefs
Supreme Court Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Court of Appeals
Court of Appeals Opinion
Opinion Number:
Date Published:
Summary
Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Osceola County, Nancy L. Whittenburg, Judge. REVERSED. Heard by Greer, P.J., and Badding, J., and Potterfield, S.J. Opinion by Greer, P.J. (14 pages)
In the middle of the 2019–2020 school year, the Board of Directors (Board) of the Sibley-Ocheyedan Community School District (District) voted to terminate the teaching contract of long-time teacher Danna Braaksma. Braaksma asked for judicial review, and the district court upheld the Board’s decision. Now, Braaksma challenges the termination on appeal. She argues (1) the Board’s termination of her contract violated the Board’s own policies and the teaching contract itself; (2) the termination of her teaching contract violated Iowa law because she was not allowed to complete an intensive assistance program as provided by statute; and (3) the four reasons the Board gave for ending her contract are not supported by a preponderance of the competent evidence in the record. OPINION HOLDS: The District was required to offer Braaksma an intensive assistance program once it determined she was failing to meet the statutory teaching standards. But it ultimately discharged her contract because of deficient performance without offering the program in adherence with contractual, statutory, and policy provisions, so the discharge was improper under Iowa Code section 284.8 (2019). As a result, we reverse the Board’s decision terminating Braaksma’s contract and reinstate Braaksma to her former position according to the terms of her contract.