Omelia v. Sweetwater County School District No. 1

On March 5, 1971, Joseph E. Roush, a continuing contract teacher, and Joseph OMelia, an initial contract teacher, at - Page 541 Wamsutter, Wyoming, filed separate actions, each seeking a declaratory judgment in the district court which would provide an opportunity to continue their employment as teachers subsequent to the time they had been advised by the authorities that teachers of the district must reside in Wamsutter five days a week, that this policy was a condition of the teaching contract, and that the district was aware of the two teachers commuting to Rawlins (forty miles distant) each day and not living in Wamsutter. Defendants denied and counterclaimed for an alleged overpayment in salaries. The cases were consolidated for trial and by stipulation the findings and decision of the district court were to be considered as those of the school board so that a hearing before the board as to Roush would be unnecessary. The court found generally for the defendants and against plaintiffs, who have now presented their consolidated appeals.