Hixson v. Greater Latrobe School District

’Opinion by

Judge Wilkinson, Jr.,

On June 27, 1977, the Greater Latrobe School District (District) suspended 13 teachers because of a substantial decline in pupil enrollment. One position was eliminated in the Industrial Arts Department, where Charles Hixson (Hixson) was the least senior teacher. However, Hixson was not suspended as another industrial arts teacher, Edward Showalter (Showalter) was also certified to teach social studies and was transferred to an assignment in the Social Studies Department.1

During the 1977-78 school year Hixson taught industrial arts and Showalter taught social…