In closing remarks of Thursday’s meeting of the Mountain Home School Board, Superintendent of Mountain Home Public Schools Dr. Jake Long, said of the 11 different bills recently on the agenda of the House Education Committee, one he will pay particular attention to is House Bill 1029.
The bill reads as an act to exclude principals, assistant principals, and central office employees with a multi-year employment contract from the definition of teacher under the Teacher Fair Dismissal Act of 1983; and for other purposes. The previous version excludes only the superintendent or assistant superintendent.
According to Little Rock Attorney and Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Jennifer Williams Flinn, the Teacher Fair Dismissal Act provides certain safeguards regarding contracts and procedures to follow if a teacher faces a possible suspension or termination.
Dr. Long says that is why he’s monitoring the bill.
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Those who currently fall under the guidelines of Teacher Fair Dismissal Act are guaranteed specific timelines for salary, contract negotiation, notifications about changes to their position and the opportunity to be heard before the school board. They must also be notified in writing if there is a recommendation of termination and the reason.
Flinn says once a qualified employee receives written notice of nonrenewal, suspension, or termination the teacher can either accept the superintendent’s recommendation and resign, or he or she may request a hearing before the school board.
Dr. Long says the process is important.
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Dr. Long intends to make contact with legislative leaders on the issue.
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He says he will also continue to monitor other bills including House Bill 1036 which proposes to ban the use of portable electronic devices.
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