Bevli

This is an appeal by the Board of Trustees of the Rio Hondo Community College District and Rio Hondo Community College District, real parties in interest (hereinafter District), from a judgment which ordered the issuance of a writ of mandate directing the real parties in interest to set aside the discharge of plaintiff-respondent and reinstate her with backpay.

Respondent Dr. Pammi Bevli was employed as a chemistry instructor by the District in 1966, serving as a tenured employee until 1977. At that time Raymond Fritsch (Fritsch), chairman of respondent’s department, undertook to investigate certain complaints regarding her. Fritsch prepared evaluations on several occasions noting a need for improvement, and when none was forthcoming, the District gave formal notice to respondent pursuant to Education Code section 87734 on July 18, 1979, that she must improve or that she might be terminated.

Respondent took a medical leave for the entire fall semester of 1979. When she advised the District that she intended to return to her teaching duties for the spring term of 1980, the District notified her that the incompetency notice served in July would be put into effect.

On…