Opinion ID: 2007046
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Repudiation Argument.

Text: Smith contends that even if the agreement was valid at its inception, it was later repudiated by the board by its attempt to terminate his teaching contract. At the time the termination proceedings were commenced, Smith had not furnished proof of his ability to return to work and had given every indication that he was not going to attempt to do so. Smith, in refusing to seek further psychiatric counseling, to provide periodic reports by his psychiatrist, and to furnish evidence of his ability to return to work, as required by the agreement, was apparently deemed by the superintendent and board to have breached the agreement. Thus, the only remedies available were to allow the unsettled status to remain in effect indefinitely, or to initiate termination proceedings. We agree with the trial court's conclusion that the actions of the superintendent and board in seeking termination were not a repudiation of the agreement but were rather an attempt to deal with Smith's breach of it. Disposition of the issue of the validity of the modification agreement on these grounds makes it unnecessary for us to address the defendant's additional argument that Smith is estopped to dispute its validity.