Sosebee v. County Line School District

David Newbern, Justice.

This is a Teacher Fair Dismissal Act case. See Ark. Code Ann. §§ 6-17-1501 through 6-17-1510 (Repl. 1993). The Act provides for an appeal to circuit court of a school board’s decision to dismiss a nonprobationary teacher. It allows a circuit court to take “[additional testimony and evidence ... to show facts and circumstances showing that the termination or nonrenewal was lawful or unlawful.” § 6-17-1510(d). The main issue before us is whether the Act creates a special proceeding or one in which the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure apply. Ark. R. Civ. P. 81(a). We hold…