Case Name: Butler, Appellant, vs. Joint School District No. 4 of the Town of Windsor and Village of De Forest, Respondent
Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Wisconsin
Decision Date: 1914-02-03
Citations: 155 Wis. 626
Docket Number: 
Parties: Butler, Appellant, vs. Joint School District No. 4 of the Town of Windsor and Village of De Forest, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: Wisconsin Reports
Volume: 155
Pages: 626–628

Head Matter:
Butler, Appellant, vs. Joint School District No. 4 of the Town of Windsor and Village of De Forest, Respondent.
January 15
February 3, 1914.
Schools and school districts: Primary department: What grades included: School board: Informal meeting.
1. The primary department of a public school does not include the 'sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, and one who contracts to teach the primary department cannot he required to teach said grades in their grade work, even though the classes he sent to the primary room.
2. When all the members of a school hoard are present, official action may be taken although the meeting be not formally called or the action formally recorded in the minutes.
Appeal from a judgment of tbe circuit' court for Dane county: E. Rat Stevens, Circuit Judge.
Reversed.
Action to recover damages for breach of contract. Tbe evidence of plaintiff showed that she was a duly qualified school teacher and entered into a written contract with tbe defendant school board in July, 1912, to teach “tbe primary department of tbe state graded school of, said district” for the school year commencing September 9, 1912, for tbe sum of $55 per month; that she taught one day and was required by tbe principal, in addition to her primary work, to instruct classes from tbe sixth, seventh, and eighth grades in tbe work of tbeir respective grades, which classes were sent down to the primary department' from the intermediate and grammar departments, and that she taught the said classes on that day, hut declined to do so in the future unless she received extra compensation, because she had not contracted to do such work. The evidence further tended to show that an informal meeting of the district board was held on the same evening at which all the members were present and the subject' was considered, and it was agreed by all the members, in substance, that the plaintiff was required, under her contract, to teach the classes so sent to the primary department without extra pay, and that' she should be notified by Mr. Karow (one of the board) of the action; that she was so notified on the same evening; that she declined to teach further on account of this requirement, but notified the board that she was ready and willing to teach the primary grades; that she received her pay for one day’s teaching, and taught no more on account of the requirement that she must teach the aforesaid higher grades. There was also evidence of substantial damage suffered by reason of her being deprived of employment, but it is unnecessary to state it. The circuit court nonsuited the plaintiff at the close of her evidence, and the plaintiff appeals.
Eor the appellant there was a brief by Anna B. Hull, attorney, and D. W. McNamara, of counsel, and oral argument by Mr. McNamara.
Eor the respondent there was a brief by Ollis, Nelson & Bushnell, and oral argument by B. N. Nelson.

Opinion:
WiNSLOW, C. J.
The legal propositions decided in this case are:
1. The primary department of a public school does not include the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, and one who contracts to teach the primary department' cannot be required to teach said grades in their grade work, even though the clasáes be sent to the primary room. If there was any doubt as to what gi'ades in our school system are primary grades that doubt is removed by sec. 452c, Stats. 1913, wbicb names the first four grades as such grades.
2. The evidence was sufficient to take to the jury the question whether the board prevented the plaintiff from proceeding to fulfil her contract to teach the primary department. When all the members of the board are present, official action may be taken although the meeting be not formally called or the action formally recorded in the minutes.
By the Gourt. — Judgment reversed, and action remanded for a new trial.