Sutera v. Sully Buttes Board of Education

DUNN, Justice.

This is an appeal from a judgment of the trial court which reversed a school board decision and reinstated a tenured teacher to employment. We affirm.

Daniel L. Sutera was a teacher in the Sully Buttes School System for thirteen years, during which time he attained tenured status. Sutera taught social sciences, driver’s education, physical education, and had coaching responsibilities every year.

In 1982, appellants Sully Buttes School District and Sully Buttes Board of Education (Board) began a policy of staff reduction because of declining enrollments. As a part of this policy,…