4117.4

Personnel -- Certified

Non-renewal/Suspension

Non-Renewal

Prior to obtaining tenure, a certified employee's contract may be non-renewed provided that the employee is notified in writing prior to April 1st by the Superintendent.  A teacher so notified may request a written statement of the reasons for non-renewal of the contract, and the district will furnish such a statement within seven (7) days of the receipt of the request.  The teacher may also file with the Board of Education within twenty (20) days of receipt of the notice of non-renewal for a hearing before the Board or, if indicated in such request designated by the Board, before an impartial hearing panel or, if the parties agree, before a single impartial hearing officer.  The hearing shall commence within fifteen days after receipt of such request unless an extension, not to exceed fifteen days, is mutually agreed upon.

A teacher who has not attained tenure shall not be entitled to a hearing concerning non-renewal if the reason for such non-renewal is either elimination of position or loss of position to another  teacher.  The Board shall rescind a non-renewal decision only if the Board finds such decision to be arbitrary and capricious.

Suspension

A certified employee may be suspended by the Board of Education for an alleged or actual violation of any of the reasons for termination in C.G.S. 10-151(c) or 10-151(d) when insufficient cause for dismissal is considered to exist, or may be suspended pending Board or legal action for dismissal of the employee on charges of violation of one or more of said causes for termination. The Superintendent may suspend an employee pending Board action when, in the opinion of the Superintendent, continuation of the employee in the position presents a clear danger to the students, staff, property or reputation of the district, or to the employee.

Legal Reference:  Connecticut General Statutes

10-151(c) Employment of teachers.

PA 95-58 An Act Concerning Teacher Evaluations, Tenure and Dismissal.

PA 97-247 An Act Concerning Revisions to the Education Statutes.

Shanbrom v. Orange Board of Education, 2 Conn. L. Rpts. 396, 398 (1990)

Policy adopted:  April 19, 2004