Barnes was hired as an assistant professor of mathematics at Reardon State College and is now in his third consecutive one-year contract. Under state law, he cannot acquire tenure until after five consecutive annual contracts. In his third year, Barnes was notified that he was not being rehired for the following year. Applicable state law and college rules did not require either a statement of reasons or a hearing, and in fact neither was offered to BarnesWhich of the following, if established, sets forth the strongest constitutional argument Barnes could make to compel the college to furnish him a statement of reasons for the failure to rehire him and an opportunity for a hearing?
There is no evidence that tenured teachers are any more qualified than he is. He leased a home in reliance on an oral promise of reemployment by the college president. He was the only teacher at the college whose contract was not renewed that year. In the expectation of remaining at the college, he had just moved his elderly parents to the town in which the college is located.