Series 4000: PERSONNEL -- CERTIFIED & NON-CERTIFIED

4117.4 Non-renewal/Suspension

Non-Renewal

Prior to obtaining tenure, a teacher’s (defined as certified staff other than the Superintendent) contract may be non-renewed provided that the teacher is notified in writing prior to May 1st of non-renewal by the Superintendent. A teacher so notified may request a written statement of the reasons for non-renewal of the contract within three (3) calendar days of receipt of a non-renewal notice, and the district will furnish a written statement within four (4) calendar days of receipt of the request. The teacher may also file with the Board of Education within ten (10) calendar days of receipt of the notice of non-renewal a request for a hearing before the Board or, if indicated in the request and if designated by the Board, before an impartial hearing officer chosen by the teacher and the superintendent. The hearing shall commence not later than fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of the request for a hearing unless an extension, not to exceed fifteen (15) calendar 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: (a) elimination of position; or (b) 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 teacher (defined as certified staff other than the Superintendent) may be suspended by the Board of Education: (a) for just cause; or (b) 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 (c) may be suspended with pay pending Board or legal action for dismissal of the teacher on charges of violation of one or more of said causes for termination. The Superintendent may suspend a teacher with pay pending Board action when, in the opinion of the Superintendent, continuation of the teacher in the position presents a clear danger to the students, staff, property or reputation of the district, or to the teacher.

Legal Reference:    

Connecticut General Statutes

10-151(b) Employment of teachers. Definitions. Tenure, etc. (as amended by P.A. 12-116, An Act Concerning Educational Reform)

10-151(c) Employment of teachers. (as amended by P.A. 11-136, An Act Concerning Minor Revisions to the Education Statutes.)

Connecticut Guidelines for Educator Evaluation adopted by the State Board of Education, June 27, 2012.

Connecticut’s System for Educator Evaluation and Development (SEED) Shanbrom v. Orange Board of Education, 2 Conn. L. Rpts. 396, 398 (1990)

Policy adopted: April 11, 2016                            THOMASTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS Thomaston, Connecticut

Policy Revised: October 21, 2024