Court Opinion

ID: 892700
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-06-05 18:41:29.510893+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:40:40.012113
License: Public Domain

1   This memorandum opinion was not selected for publication in the New Mexico Reports. Please
 2   see Rule 12-405 NMRA for restrictions on the citation of unpublished memorandum opinions.
 3   Please also note that this electronic memorandum opinion may contain computer-generated
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 6   IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO

 7 DR. SONIA DIAZ,

 8          Plaintiff-Appellant,

 9 v.                                                                                    NO. 28,172

10 BOARD OF EDUCATION FOR THE
11 LAS CRUCES PUBLIC SCHOOLS,

12          Respondent-Appellee.

13 APPEAL FROM A DECISION OF AN ARBITRATOR
14 Lee V. Vesely, Independent Arbitrator

15 Miller Stratvert P.A.
16 Lawrence R. White
17 Las Cruces, NM

18 for Appellant

19   Cuddy & McCarthy, LLP
20   John F. Kennedy
21   Evelyn A. Peyton
22   Santa Fe, NM

23 for Appellee

24                                 MEMORANDUM OPINION

25 CASTILLO, Judge.
 1        Appellant, Dr. Sonia Diaz, appeals from the decision of an independent

 2 arbitrator affirming the decision of the Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education

 3 (the Board) to discharge Diaz from her employment as superintendent of the Las

 4 Cruces Public Schools. We affirm.

 5 I.     FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

 6        Diaz was hired by the Board in late June 2006, under a two-year contract. On

 7 November 8, the Board suspended Diaz, and on November 29, the Board served Diaz

 8 with notice of intent to discharge pursuant to NMSA 1978, Section 22-10A-27(B)

 9 (2003) of the School Personnel Act (the Act). The notice of intent to discharge

10 alleged, among other things, that Diaz was insubordinate and that she had engaged in

11 unprofessional conduct in violation of the code of ethics and standards of professional

12 conduct. Following a two-day hearing at which the Board heard evidence, the Board

13 issued its decision discharging Diaz.

14        Diaz appealed the Board’s decision to an independent arbitrator pursuant to

15 NMSA 1978, Section 22-10A-28(D) (2003) (providing for de novo review by an

16 independent arbitrator of a local school board’s decision to discharge a certified

17 school employee); see also Santa Fe Pub. Sch. v. Romero, 2001-NMCA-103, ¶ 16,

18 131 N.M. 383, 37 P.3d 100 (holding that on review, the independent arbitrator must

19 review all relevant evidence and decide whether the board has established by a

                                              2
 1 preponderance of the evidence that the allegations of misconduct had a basis in fact

 2 and whether they constitute just cause for discharge).

 3        At the hearing, the Board presented evidence of the incidents that formed the

 4 basis for Diaz’s discharge. They occurred over a four-month period and began almost

 5 as soon as Diaz began employment with the district. The independent arbitrator’s

 6 unchallenged findings of fact establish that during this period of time, Diaz initiated

 7 a series of incidents in which she publicly berated and humiliated administrators and

 8 staff members and that she generally treated her subordinates in an undignified and

 9 demeaning manner. Diaz also made inappropriate references to a colleague’s weight

10 and physical appearance. Numerous school district administrators and central office

11 staff resigned, either as a result of Diaz’s treatment of them or because of an inability

12 to work with her.

13        The independent arbitrator found that during a severe weather event, instead of

14 handling the crisis, Diaz had a district staff member follow her home so she could put

15 her car in the garage. She returned to the office forty-five minutes after notification

16 of the crisis, and by that time the crisis had been handled by the administrative crisis

17 team. The independent arbitrator also noted Diaz’s deficiencies in complying with

18 purchasing regulations and procedures.

19        Additionally, there was evidence regarding Diaz’s conduct with respect to

                                               3
 1 instituting a new reading program in the district. Soon after she started, Diaz began

 2 preparations to implement the new reading program. Implementation of the program

 3 in the middle of the year would cost an estimated $900,000, a substantial sum of

 4 money which the district did not have. At a work session with Diaz on October 24,

 5 the Board requested assurances from Diaz that other areas of the budget or school

 6 programs would not be impacted adversely by implementation of the new reading

 7 program. The Board also expressed concerns regarding the cost of the new reading

 8 program and questioned why it should be implemented in the middle of the year.

 9 There was evidence that it was clear to Diaz following the work session that the Board

10 did not want her to implement the new reading program. Immediately following the

11 work session, Diaz told a staff member “[t]o hell with them. I’m doing it anyway.”

12        The independent arbitrator made over eighty findings of fact. His conclusions

13 can be divided into three categories. As to the severe weather event and non-

14 compliance with district purchasing requirements, the independent arbitrator

15 concluded that Diaz’s conduct in this regard was unsatisfactory work performance that

16 should be addressed through a performance development process before service of a

17 notice of intent to discharge.

18        In the second category, the independent arbitrator determined that Diaz’s

19 actions with regard to the reading program constituted insubordination. In the third

                                             4
 1 category, the independent arbitrator collectively described certain of Diaz’s conduct

 2 as her leadership style, and he concluded that her leadership style amounted to

 3 unprofessional conduct establishing just cause for discharge as well as unsatisfactory

 4 work performance. The arbitrator further concluded that no performance development

 5 process was required to improve Diaz’s leadership style because such requirement

 6 would be impractical, fraught with the likelihood of further destroying morale, and

 7 could result in the loss of strong key employees.

 8        Based on the findings and conclusions, the independent arbitrator affirmed the

 9 Board’s discharge of Diaz. This appeal followed.

10 II.    DISCUSSION

11         When reviewing an independent arbitrator’s decision to affirm the discharge

12 of a certified school employee under the Act, we determine whether substantial

13 evidence supports the independent arbitrator’s findings of fact, and we review the

14 arbitrator’s conclusions of law de novo. See Bd. of Educ. v. Harrell, 118 N.M. 470,

15 486, 882 P.2d 511, 527 (1994) (holding that substantial evidence review of the

16 findings of fact and de novo review of questions of law satisfy due process under

17 compulsory arbitration statutes). Diaz makes two challenges to the independent

18 arbitrator’s determination. First, she asserts that there was insufficient evidence to

19 support the independent arbitrator’s conclusion that she was insubordinate. Second,

                                             5
 1 Diaz contends that the independent arbitrator was correct in describing her leadership

 2 style as unsatisfactory work performance, and she argues that she was entitled to work

 3 conferences directed toward improvement before any discharge. We address these

 4 issues in reverse order.

 5 A.     Leadership Style

 6        Diaz claims that although the independent arbitrator described her leadership

 7 style as unprofessional conduct, he also concluded that her style constituted

 8 unsatisfactory work performance, and as such, Diaz asserts that she was entitled to at

 9 least two work conferences with her supervisor before being served with a notice of

10 discharge. See NMSA 1978, § 22-10A-30 (2003) (mandating that the state board

11 prescribe regulations and procedures for correcting unsatisfactory work performance

12 prior to discharge of a certified school employee); 6.69.2.8(B)(1) NMAC (requiring

13 the local school board or governing authority to hold two or more work conferences

14 to correct unsatisfactory work performance prior to serving notice of intent to

15 discharge under Section 22-10A-27). Diaz claims that, because she was denied the

16 conferences, we must reverse. See Kleinberg v. Bd. of Educ., 107 N.M. 38, 45, 751

17 P.2d 722, 729 (Ct. App. 1988) (stating that the failure to provide required work

18 conferences is a basis for reversal, except in cases of unprofessional conduct or

19 insubordination).

                                             6
 1        “Whether the conduct complained of is unsatisfactory work performance

 2 depends upon the particular facts.” Board of Educ. v. Jennings, 98 N.M. 602, 609,

 3 651 P.2d 1037, 1044 (Ct. App. 1982) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted),

 4 overruled on other grounds by Board of Educ. v. New Mexico State Bd. of Educ., 106

 5 N.M. 129, 129-30, 740 P.2d 123, 123-24 (Ct. App. 1987). Unsatisfactory work

 6 performance is defined as “failure by licensed school personnel to satisfactorily

 7 perform those tasks which are evaluated by the employee’s supervisors, pursuant to

 8 the school district’s approved plans [] for evaluation and supervision of its licensed

 9 employees.” 6.69.2.7(D) NMAC. Diaz likens her leadership style and its effects to

10 sexual harassment, a form of conduct determined to be unsatisfactory work

11 performance in Jennings, 98 N.M. at 609, 651 P.2d at 1044 (determining that sexual

12 harassment allegations against a school principal involved unsatisfactory work

13 performance and that he was therefore entitled to work conferences).              See

14 6.60.9.9(C)(10) NMAC (defining sexual harassment of a school employee as a

15 violation of the standards of professional conduct).

16        The Board argues that Diaz’s leadership style was properly described as

17 unprofessional conduct and provided just cause for discharge. The New Mexico

18 Public Education Department has established minimal standards of ethical behavior

19 and professional conduct applicable to all licensed school personnel and

                                             7
 1 administrators. See 6.60.9.2 NMAC; 6.60.9.10 NMAC. The code of ethics requires,

 2 in part, that educational professionals “participate and conduct [themselves] in a

 3 responsible manner in the development and implementation of policies affecting

 4 education” and “accord just and equitable treatment to all members of the profession

 5 in the exercise of their professional rights and responsibilities.” 6.60.9.8(C)(2), (C)(4)

 6 NMAC. Under the standards of professional conduct, educators and administrators

 7 “shall not knowingly make false or derogatory personal comments about an

 8 educational colleague,” “shall avoid conduct connected with official duties that is

 9 unfair, [or is] improper, illegal or gives the [impression] of being improper or illegal,”

10 and “shall not . . . while representing the school . . . engage in . . . abusive . . .

11 conduct.” 6.60.9.9(C)(7), (C)(9), (C)(20) NMAC.

12        The Board directs us to the Act, the definition of just cause, and code

13 requirements for failure to comply. Pursuant to the Act, a local school board may

14 discharge a certified school employee only for “just cause.” See § 22-10A-27(A).

15 “Just cause” is defined as “a reason that is rationally related to an employee’s

16 competence or turpitude or the proper performance of the employee’s duties and that

17 is not in violation of the employee’s civil or constitutional rights.” NMSA 1978, § 22-

18 10A-2(G) (2007). Under the code section entitled “Failure to Comply with Code,”

19 there is language stating that the public education department (PED) “finds that

                                               8
 1 adherence to this code of ethical responsibility has a significant bearing on licensed

 2 personnel’s competence, turpitude or the proper performance of their duties.”

 3 6.60.9.10 NMAC. Therefore, according to the Board, failure to comply with the code

 4 is unprofessional conduct which provides just cause for discharge.

 5        While we agree that unprofessional conduct can establish just cause for

 6 discharge, the inquiry does not end there. Section 22-10A-30 and Regulation Section

 7 6.69.2.8(B)(1) NMAC establish a process allowing certified school personnel to

 8 correct unsatisfactory work performance before discharge. Deficient performance

 9 would include violations of the code of ethics when that conduct is unsatisfactory

10 work performance. Consequently, we must also address the independent arbitrator’s

11 further conclusions that Diaz’s leadership style was unsatisfactory work performance,

12 but that no work conferences were required because of impracticality and likely

13 detriment to the district.

14        Although the Board appears to agree that Diaz’s leadership style was

15 unsatisfactory work performance, it argues, without citation, that the Board was not

16 required to place Diaz on a growth plan for her conduct. Diaz argues that there is no

17 authority in statute or regulation allowing the independent arbitrator to waive the

18 requirement for work conferences before discharge. We agree. We understand the

19 basis for the arbitrator’s conclusion, but there is no legal authority allowing such

                                             9
 1 waiver. See Morgan v. N.M. State Bd. of Educ., 83 N.M. 106, 109, 488 P.2d 1210,

 2 1213 (Ct. App. 1971) (reversing the discharge of a teacher for failure to provide work

 3 conferences prior to the discharge). Section 22-10A-30 directs the PED to establish

 4 procedures for correcting unsatisfactory work performance before notice of intent to

 5 discharge is served.       6.69.2.6-8 NMAC establishes the procedures.             Only

 6 “insubordination or conduct deemed to be outside the normal scope of duties of

 7 licensed school personnel” are exempt from the requirement of at least two

 8 conferences, time to correct deficiencies, and a written record of the process.

 9 6.69.2.7(D) NMAC. Once the arbitrator determined that Diaz’s leadership style was

10 unsatisfactory work performance, Diaz was entitled to work conferences and time to

11 improve her performance before service of notice of intent to discharge.

12 B.     Insubordination

13        We turn now to the evidence underlying the independent arbitrator’s conclusion

14 that Diaz was insubordinate. “Insubordination” is defined as “actual or implied

15 willful refusal to follow written policies, regulations, rules, or procedures established

16 by the public education department (PED), the local school board, or administrative

17 authorities, or the lawful written or oral orders, requests or instructions of

18 administrative authorities.” 6.69.2.7(B) NMAC. Diaz argues that there was no

19 evidence of insubordination severe enough to warrant her discharge. She contends

                                              10
 1 there is no basis for insubordination because she took no further action to implement

 2 the reading program after the work session, and in fact she could not have done so

 3 because she was suspended by the board four days later. We disagree with both

 4 contentions.

 5        In the time before the work session, Diaz had begun the implementation of the

 6 new reading program despite the district’s serious financial situation. She had tried

 7 to secure funding for the program, although her efforts had not proven fruitful. At the

 8 work session on October 24, the Board clearly expressed its concern about

 9 implementation of the program, and Diaz was on notice that she was to take no further

10 action regarding the program’s implementation. While the evidence supports Diaz’s

11 contention that she was not able to take financial steps to continue implementation

12 because of her suspension, the record does reflect other conduct. Diaz’s comment

13 following the work session establishes a willful refusal to follow the board’s wishes

14 with respect to the reading program.            See 6.69.2.7(B) NMAC (defining

15 insubordination as actual or implied willful refusal to follow lawful orders of the

16 administrative authority). Accordingly, we hold that the evidence was sufficient to

17 support the independent arbitrator’s determination that Diaz engaged in

18 insubordination with regard to the reading program. See Kleinberg, 107 N.M. at 45,

19 751 P.2d at 729 (holding that the evidence was sufficient to establish insubordination

                                             11
 1 based on the teacher’s defiant attitude towards the principal and refusal to follow his

 2 instructions).

 3        Because Diaz’s discharge was based not only on unsatisfactory work

 4 performance but also on the charges of insubordination, this case is factually

 5 analogous to and controlled by Kleinberg.          Id.   Multiple grounds including

 6 unsatisfactory work performance, insubordination, conduct unbecoming a teacher,

 7 unprofessional conduct and open defiance of supervisory authority were cited as the

 8 basis for the discharge of the teacher in Kleinberg. Id. Similar to Diaz’s argument in

 9 the case before us, the teacher in Kleinberg argued that, because her discharge was

10 based on unsatisfactory work performance, she was entitled to conferences and, as she

11 had not been extended this opportunity, she was entitled to reversal of the discharge.

12 Id. We rejected this contention and observed that the charge of insubordination was

13 itself an adequate basis for the discharge. Id. We reach the same conclusion here.

14 III.   CONCLUSION

15        We affirm the independent arbitrator’s determination that the school board had

16 just cause to discharge Diaz.

17        IT IS SO ORDERED.

18                                         ________________________________
19                                         CELIA FOY CASTILLO, Judge

                                             12
1 WE CONCUR:

2 __________________________________
3 JAMES J. WECHSLER, Judge

4 __________________________________
5 TIMOTHY L. GARCIA, Judge

                                  13