ANALYZE THE SITUATION 4.3 JOANNA HART WAS OFFERED a position as director of food service for the independent school district of Laingsford. She received a written offer of employment on the first of the month, with a stipulation that the offer would be in effect until the 15th of the month. If Ms. Hart were to accept the employment offer, she would have to sign the employment contract and return it to the Laingsford superintendent of schools before the offer expired on the 15th. Upon reading the details of the contract, Ms. Hart felt that the salary identified in the letter was too low, and thus she adjusted it upward by $5,000, initialing her change on the contract copy. She then returned the offer letter to the schools superintendent with a cover letter, stating she was pleased to accept the position as detailed in the contract. The contract arrived by mail in the office of the superintendent on the 14th of the month, at which time, the superintendent called Ms. Hart to express his regret that she had rejected the employment offer. During the telephone call, Ms. Hart realized that the superintendent would not accept her salary revision proposal, so instead she verbally accepted the position at the original rate of pay. The superintendent, however, declined her acceptance, stating that the original employment offer no longer existed 1.

Does the school have the legal right to withdraw its offer of employment? Why or why not?