Jasper School District No. 1 of Newton County v. Cooper, 441 S.W.3d 11

Cooper was Oark schools' principal for 29 years; Oark schools were annexed by the District in 2004.
Cooper became principal of all Oark schools in 2009.
In Feb. 2011 Cooper signed a contract stating she would serve as K-12 Principal, Oark, contingent on a valid teaching license.
In Sept. 2011 Cooper was removed as Oark principal and reassigned to Kingston for in-school suspension; nine reasons for termination were listed in Saylors’s notice.
After a hearing, the Board terminated Cooper; she sued alleging TFDA noncompliance and due-process violations; circuit court reinstated her and awarded damages.
District and Saylors appealed, challenging TFDA compliance, whether Cooper had a property right in her Oark principal position, and the damage award.

Issue	Plaintiff's Argument	Defendant's Argument	Held
TFDA compliance for nonrenewal/termination	Cooper; district failed to provide required notice and documentation.	District; there was substantial compliance and transfer supported.	TFDA not satisfied; lack of notice and documentation supports reversal on that point.
Cooper’s property interest in the Oark principal position	Cooper had a protected property interest in the principal position under contract.	Assignment clause allowed other duties but did not strip the principal position.	Cooper had a property interest in the Oark principal position; not divested by transfer.
Damages and retirement collateral-source offset	Back pay plus retirement losses; TDROP amount linked to full term.	Retirement benefits are collateral; offset appropriate.	Collateral-source rule applies; retirement benefits not deducted from back pay, affirmed.

Buchanan v. Little Rock School Dist. of Pulaski County, 84 F.3d 1035 (8th Cir. 1996) (property interest in employment requires explicit entitlement from state law or contract constraints)
Chandler v. Perry-Casa Public Schools District No. 2, 286 Ark. 170 (1985) (no entitlement to the duties of preferred position; transfer allowed)
Manila School District No. 15 v. White, 338 Ark. 195 (1999) (contract language indicates role; reassignment does not remove status of coach)
White v. Manila School District, 338 Ark. 195 (1999) (coaching duties reflected in contract; reassignment analyzed)
Western Grove School District v. Strain, 288 Ark. 507 (1986) (collateral-source rule relevance to damages in educational employment cases)
Green Forest Public Schools v. Herrington, 287 Ark. 43 (1985) (collateral sources generally not reduce damages; unemployment-like benefits treated as collateral)
Murray v. Altheimer-Sherrill Pub. Sch., 294 Ark. 403 (1988) (TFDA fairness requires written notice and documented efforts to assist)