Fairchild v. Bd. of Educ. of San Francisco

Henshaw, J. Appeal from judgment of superior court in mandamus and from order denying a new trial.

Plaintiff was, and for more than ten years before the fourteenth day of September, 1892, ha,d been, a principal teacher in the public schools of San Francisco, elected for no definite term. Upon that day she obtained a leave of absence until July 1, 1893. Upon the expiration of her leave of absence she reported for duty, and asked to be allowed to resume the position of principal of the Potrero school, which, position she was filling at the time of her vacation. That position had been filled, during her absence, by the election of another teacher to it. Her request was, therefore, refused, and she was assigned to the head of the day school substi[93]tute class, under rule 124 of the board of education, which rule, so far as applicable to the case at bar, is as follows:

“ When a principal or assistant has been employed in the public schools of San Francisco for a period of not less than ten years the board may grant such principal or assistant a leave of absence for a period not exceeding one year, and the teacher to whom such leave is granted shall, at the expiration of the leave of absence, be entitled to a position of the same grade as he or she held when the leave was granted. When a teacher returns from a leave of absence, if there be no suitable vacancy, the teacher shall be assigned to the head of day school substitute class.”

This rule was in force at the time plaintiff obtained her leave of absence. The compensation allowed teachers in the day school substitute class is much less than that which attached to the grade and position to which plaintiff had been elected.

Under this state of facts it is apparent that the case is parallel in its essential features with Kennedy v. Board of Education, 82 Cal. 483.

The board of education in regulating vacations could pass no rules in contravention of the statutory provisions. Upon returning from her vacation plaintiff was entitled to enter upon the performance of the duties of a principal teacher, if not in her former school, at least in one of like grade. She was likewise entitled to receive the compensation belonging to her grade. To fill her position by election when she was in the enjoyment of her leave of absence, and to assign her, under less pay, to the substitute class, was but doing in another form what this court declared unlawful when Kate Kennedy, upon her return, was removed to a position in a school of lower grade at less salary.