Opinion ID: 2007046
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Execution of the Modification Agreement.

Text: We pass the issue of whether the plaintiff has lost his right to challenge the initial validity of the agreement because of the allegation in his petition that it was a contract of the district. We also pass the question of the effect of the plaintiff's own reliance upon the agreement in seeking, and accepting, the benefits of it in the form of sick pay. Resolution of these issues is unnecessary because the agreement was properly executed by the superintendent in any event. Iowa Code section 279.12 provides that the board of directors shall ... elect all teachers and make all contracts necessary or proper for exercising the powers granted and performing the duties required by law.... Section 279.13(1) provides that contracts with teachers shall be in writing and shall state the number of contract days, the annual compensation to be paid, and any other matters as may be mutually agreed upon. It also provides that the contract shall be signed by the president of the board when tendered.... We agree with the district court's conclusion that, while section 279.12 grants the board the authority to make all contracts, it does not prevent that authority from being exercised by and through the superintendent. We also agree with its conclusion that section 279.13(2), at least by its terms, refers only to the base contract; it does not require that a limited modification, such as involved here, be signed by the board president. We believe, in any event, that the superintendent is authorized to enter into an agreement such as this as a means of informal settlement procedures under Iowa Code section 279.16 which provides that in a termination proceeding [e]vidence may be by stipulation of the parties and informal settlement may be made by stipulation, consent, or default or by any other method agreed upon by the parties in writing. The board shall employ a certified shorthand reporter to keep a record of the private hearing. The proceedings or any part thereof shall be transcribed at the request of either party with the expense of transcription charged to the requesting party. The parties referred to are the teacher and the superintendent. See § 279.15-.16. Such informal settlements were recognized and specifically approved in the earlier Smith appeal. Smith, 293 N.W.2d at 224. As we observed in that opinion, this modification agreement was executed in lieu of immediate termination proceedings. Id. at 222. In effect, when the superintendent agreed to withhold his notice of termination, and Smith agreed to go on sick leave until he furnished proof of his recovery, they executed an informal settlement of termination proceedings as envisioned by section 279.16. Because the superintendent, not the board, is a party to such settlement agreement, it is clear he is authorized to sign it.