In re Recall Charges Against Seattle Sch. Dist. Dir. Butler-Wall, No. 79869-9 (Wash. Dec. 12, 2007)
The Washington State Supreme Court has rejected a petition for a recall election of members of the Seattle School District No. 1’s school board. Those seeking recall cited the board’s failure to take action to prevent a school closure resulting from a merger, to hold public hearings on the superintendent's proposed closure, and to prevent sale of school property, which the petitioner asserted was illegal. The court concluded that these charges were insufficient to support the petition. The charge about the closure was without merit, the court found, because the elementary school in question was not initially closed but its programs merged with another low enrollment elementary school, and the decision to close the school was made only after a proper vote was conducted. As to the sale, the court found that the property was part of a pre-existing lease executed in 1986 and that its subsequent sale was “simply the fulfillment of the obligations created by that contract.” As a result, the court concluded there was no action the board could take to prevent the sale.
In re Recall Charges Against Seattle Sch. Dist. Dir. Butler-Wall, No. 79869-9 (Wash. Dec. 12, 2007)
Majority opinion
Concurring opinion