Federal Chief Judge Judge Colm Connoly dismissed the case last month, calling arguments in former superintendent Dan Shelton's suit “irrelevant” and “over-the-top.”
Shelton’s contract with the district prevented him from being terminated “except for good and just cause.”
Connoly also claimed Shelton’s lawyers can’t argue he was wrongfully terminated as it listed his salary – about $210 thousand – in the present tense, implying Shelton was placed on long-term administrative leave but still permitted to complete his contract, collect a salary and have benefits.
Connoly argued Shelton’s contract was not breached despite the hiring of an interim superintendent in 2024 because Shelton was never technically fired, just placed on forced administrative leave.
Connoly also said Shelton’s representation did not “identify a single term that was breached” and their complaint was not “simple, concise, [or] direct.” In the future, he said he would not grant Shelton’s defense’s request for word count extensions.
Since Shelton filed an appeal, he and his team are responsible to complete forms to move the process forward.
Once the Court has all necessary information, a panel of judges will decide whether or not to allow the appeal to move forward. If they decide against allowing the appeal to proceed, Shelton would be able to file a petition for rehearing.
