PAGE files lawsuit against Dublin City Schools over teacher’s contract termination
The Professional Association of Georgia Educators says Dublin City Schools breached a teacher’s contract while making budget cuts to address a multimillion-dollar shortfall.
DUBLIN, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE) has filed a lawsuit against Dublin City Schools and its Board of Education, accusing the district of breaching a teacher’s contract during ongoing budget cuts tied to a multimillion-dollar deficit.
According to a PAGE news release, the complaint was filed Tuesday in Laurens County Superior Court on behalf of teacher Ashley White. It asks the court to declare that the Board of Education has no authority to terminate her contract and to reinstate her for the remainder of the 2025–2026 school year.
PAGE said the district’s charter status exempts it from most provisions of Title 20, including Georgia’s Fair Dismissal Act.
“Therefore, the district does not have authority under the FDA to terminate employee contracts,” the release said.
“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.”
PAGE General Counsel Jill Hay said the organization is “diligently working to protect the rights of all our Dublin City members during this difficult and uncertain time.”
The lawsuit comes as Dublin City Schools makes deep spending cuts to close a reported $13 million shortfall. Earlier this week, the district said its board approved $3 million in additional reductions, including the elimination of travel, suspension of some transportation routes and the reduction or realignment of several staff positions.
The district described those changes as part of a “multi-year effort to balance the budget and restore fiscal health.”
Interim Superintendent Marcee Pool said in a statement Tuesday that the district is focused on maintaining classroom quality.
“While these decisions are some of the hardest we’ve ever had to make, they are vital to securing the long-term stability of Dublin City Schools,” she said.
The Georgia Department of Education has assigned a special advisor to Dublin City Schools to help guide financial recovery efforts. State School Superintendent Richard Woods said earlier this month that the goal is to ensure stability for students, teachers and staff while district operations are stabilized.
