4117.3

Personnel — Certified

Personnel Reduction in Force (RIF)

1.  General

Under Section 10-220 and 10-4A of the Connecticut General Statutes, the Board of Education has the responsibility to maintain good public elementary and secondary schools and to implement the educational interests of the State.  However, recognizing also that it may become necessary to eliminate professional staff positions in certain circumstances, this policy is adopted to provide a fair and orderly process should such eliminations become necessary.

2.  Reasons for Elimination of Teaching Positions

The Board of Education has the sole and exclusive prerogative to eliminate professional staff positions consistent with the provisions of statute, providing such elimination does not result in the failure in its duty as a State agency to implement the educational interests of the State, and to provide good public elementary and secondary schools.

Elimination of professional staff positions may result from decreases in student enrollment, changes in curriculum, severe financial conditions, or other circumstances as determined by the Board of Education.

Professional staff members will be dismissed under this policy only when authorized by the Board of Education, and only within the provisions of the following procedure.

3.  Definitions

a.  As outlined herein, the term teacher shall apply to any employee of the Board of Education who holds a regular certificate issued by the Connecticut State Board of Education, and is employed in a teaching or administrative position below the rank of Superintendent.

b.  Tenure - as defined by Connecticut General Statutes

c.  Non-Tenure - as defined by Connecticut General Statutes

4.  Procedure

a.  Prior to commencing action to terminate teachers' contracts under this procedure, the Board of Education will give every consideration to its ability to effectuate possible and/or reduction in staff by:

1.  Voluntary retirements.

2.  Voluntary resignations.

3.  Transfer of existing staff members.

b.  Elimination of professional staff positions.

1.  Non-tenured teachers will be terminated before tenured teachers.

2.  Within the category of non-tenured teachers, the administration will recommend the teacher to be terminated on the basis of performance evaluation.

3.  Tenured teachers with the greatest number of unbroken years of employment in the __________________ Public Schools will be retained.

4.  Appropriate certification requirements must be met in each consideration.

5.  Policy Provision Not Applicable to Promotions

Nothing herein shall require the promotion of a teacher to a position of higher rank, authority, or compensation, although the teacher whose contract is to be terminated is qualified and/or certified for the promotional position.

Legal Reference:  Connecticut General Statutes

10-4a Educational interests of the state identified

10-151 Employment of teachers. Notice and hearing on termination of contract.

10-220 Duties of boards of education

Policy adopted: