Lipka v. Brown City Community Schools

When this case was first submitted, we were evenly divided over the question of whether a school board’s written statement that a probationary teacher’s work is unsatisfactory must include reasons for that conclusion.

I wrote to answer this question affirmatively, *558requiring school boards to provide reasons for their action. I was of the opinion that such a policy would prevent arbitrary and capricious school board action. Justices Williams and Fitzgerald joined in that opinion.

Justice Coleman, joined by Justices Levin and Ryan, wrote to answer the question negatively, finding that while…