Dublin City Schools, school board sued over job cuts

The Professional Association of Georgia Educators has filed a breach of contract lawsuit against the Dublin City Schools and the Dublin City Board of Education over a teacher’s termination as part of the struggling system’s deficit reduction plan.

PAGE said it filed the lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of Ashley White, an art teacher at Hillcrest Elementary. 

“Though Dublin City Schools is seeking to address an extreme budget shortfall, it is essential that no action be taken that violates the legal rights of its staff,” PAGE Executive Director Craig Harper said. “As the termination of Ms. White’s employment prior to the end of her contract term is a violation of her legal rights, PAGE has taken this action on her behalf.”

Facing a $13.4 million deficit by the end of the fiscal year, the Dublin school board approved a deficit reduction plan last week that eliminated more than 50 positions.

The lawsuit, filed in Laurens Superior Court, seeks declaratory relief and a mandamus asking that the court declare that the school “has no authority to unilaterally terminate” White’s contract and requiring that the board reinstate White to her position for the entirety of the 2025-2026 school year. 

The complaint specifies that, as a charter system, Dublin City Schools has a blanket waiver exempting them from most of the provisions of Title 20 (education) including the Fair Dismissal Act (FDA). Therefore, the district does not have authority under the FDA to terminate employee contracts.

Ellen Schoolar of Savannah, a PAGE Network attorney, is representing White in this action.

“PAGE Legal is diligently working to protect the rights of all our Dublin City members during this difficult and uncertain time,” PAGE general counsel Jill Hay said in news release. “It is unfortunate that the district is in this position and that the students and staff are the ones suffering the consequences.”