Michael Romano is a tenured English teacher at Porch Richmond High School. He was faculty advisor for the school's newspaper, The Crow's Nest, from 1978 to 1984 when he was dismissed as a result of his role in the publication of a controversial student opposing the proposed federal holiday for Martin Luther King Junior. This article was named "Federal Holiday Mocks American Principles."
Romano had helped the author edit this piece and did not censor it regarding the school regulations. On February 8, 1984, Margaret Harrison, the principle of the high school met with Romano and terminated him. She rated his performance as faculty advisor "unsatisfactory for the fall semester of 1984. Even though he stayed a tenured teacher, Romano's position as faculty advisor was terminated.
Harrison stated that Romano lacked standing to assert a First Amendment. She also said his position as faculty advisor did not deserve to go to court and wouldn't even be protected by the due process; yet, Romano's hearing in front of the Board of Education satisfied any due process that would hear him.