The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-06-01
SCHOOL BOARD PAYS
$4,000 EXTRA FOR
LAWYER, MARCH SAYS
Hearing On His
Mand0n1uS Suit
Set For June

is paying S., 900 for additional legal
help to battle General Supervisor
of instruction Leland March in his
fight to compel the Board to give
him a continuing contract, said
March today.
March makes his accusation in
a letter to the President of the
Monroe County Classroom Teach
ers Association released today. He
said:
~ have not asked the Class
room Teachers Association, nor
anyone else, for help of any kind
even tho / have been informed
that, at The SUperinfendenf's re-
quest, the School Board is setting
aside $500 for each Board men,
Der and Mr.. o'Bryanf, totalline
5000 Of the taxpayers money
70 hire an extra lawyer and pay
the expenses Of defeating my
claim. This is in addition to the
regular School Board attorney in
fhe pay Of the Board. Ny ex-
pense is coming entirely from
my own pocket"
The general supervisor is on
leave with pay from the school
system, following his discharge
from his position last month.
He and his attorney ]. Y. Porter
have sued for writ of mandamus
to compel the Board to issue him
the continuing contract which he
states is required by Florida law.
March's letter to the Classroom
Teachers Association reads in Full:
Miss Pauline Nihoul, PRECEDENT
Executive Board
Monroe County Classroom Tea
cheers Association
Truman Elementary School
Key West. Florida
Dear Pauline:
''It was quite a surprise to read
your recent statement in the May
END issue Of the Key West Citizen
in which you disclaimed any in
terest on the part of teachers in
whether or not the continuing con-
tract laws for teachers operate in
Monroe County. If you will re-read
my May IS statement you will dis
cover | made no attempt to speak
for the teachers, but merely
brought out the fact that the out
come of my case in successful
manner would benefit them. have
not asked the Classroom Teachers
Association, nor anyone else, for
help of any kind even tho / have
been informed that, at the Super
intendent's request. the School
Board is setting aside $500 for each
Board member and Mr.. o'Bryant,
totaling $4,000 OF the taxpayers
money to hire an extra lawyer and
pay the expenses of defeating my
claim. This is In addition to the
regular School Board attorney in
the pay of the Board My expense
is coming entirely from my own
pocket.
II am endeavoring to set a legal
precedent that the continuing con-
tract laws, as passed by the legis-
lature, are actually in effect in
Monroe County and can not be ig-
nored 10 the detriment Of the tea.
ching personnel because some
school official wishes to be able to
fire anyone without the need OF
real cause. The law must be OBJ.
served here TO be OF any benefit
10 teachers. That is the exact
thing | am standing up for, altho
others viii probably receive more
benefit from the result than | will.
1T is my understanding that a
year or two ago the Classroom
Teachers Association appointed a
committee to inquire of the Super
intendent why teachers who were
eligible TO receive continuing con-
tracts were not getting them, II
is also my understanding that the
committee did not perform its
function.
"lf the Classroom Teachers As
ISOLATION is unwilling or unable to
fight for the rights Of its members
and pgeferS TO stand idly by and
watch helpless individuals picked
off one hy one for political and
personal reasons. for Heaven S
sake. please do not throw bricks
In the path Of anyone who is will
ING 10 put up a fight fer the rights
OF an toe employed school person.
mel mst because that person is not
technically a member of the Class
room Teachers Association.
Il am not attempting so repre-
sent the teachers OF lpe their Spok-
eSman. nor avn | asking them 70
take any part in my present pro
HEM. However, ! am of the opln.
loa that clear thinking teachers
VIII evSognl2e thai victory tog
mc will be a victory tor then. and
reverse fer me viii be 5 set.
hack for them IN the matter al re-
eeiylng . continuing contract when
the law states that they are eligi.
he 10 receive such q contract.
Sincerely yoGrs,
Leland ). March
saCeafra& Ss,y,eryiSsar ~ iaNsrsts..