O'Neal v. Ector County Independent School District

The Legislature has established administrative procedures with short deadlines to encourage prompt resolution of teacher contract disputes. But appeals and remands may extend those procedures for years, as occurred here. The question presented is whether a teacher may file a parallel suit in state court to avoid a potential limitations bar. Because the administrative remedies here provide the same relief available in collateral litigation, we hold that a second suit is neither necessary nor permissible.

Helen O’Neal was employed by Ector County Independent School District as a teacher under a…