The speaker, a school board attorney, outlines four legal problems he has had to deal with. The cases concern teacher dismissal, the district's responsibility in the case of "hazardous transportation," school district purchases for student activities (student photographs), and school bus leasing. (IRT)

In the Roth and Sinderman cases, the United States Supreme Court laid down guidelines concerning nonrenewal of contracts and teacher dismissal. While those guidelines appear at first to be clear cut, the applicability of the guidelines has been far from uniform. In some cases, the guidelines appear to have been followed. However, in other cases…

The rights of a teacher in relation to insubordination are discussed in this document. Emphasis is placed on the definition and examples of insubordination. The conclusion summarizes the procedures of insubordination and a teacher's rights when charged with insubordination: procedures include a preliminary investigation, establishment of probable…

Describes a complex case involving termination of a third-grade teacher with recurrent tuberculosis. The United States Supreme Court upheld a circuit court's ruling that the teacher's condition satisfied section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act protecting handicapped persons against discrimination. Since contagiousness was not addressed, the…

Presents a set of model regulations on the issue of reduction in force applicable to certified personnel. (Author/WD)

Examines the procedural due process rights of public school teachers in Iowa in light of recent changes in the Iowa statute governing the termination of teacher contracts. The changes include the requirement of "just cause" in contract termination. Available from the Drake Law Review, Des Moines, Iowa 50311; sc $5.00. (Author/IRT)

The 1985 Illinois school reform legislation revised statutes and regulations to ensure that teachers who were evaluated as substandard could be removed from their positions. Describes and discusses the decision-making problem that results when administrative error subverts the legislative intent. (MLF)

Examines factors influencing removal of unsuitable teachers in 30 North Carolina school districts. Describes the proportions of teachers being removed from classrooms, the variables affecting teachers' involuntary separation, opinions regarding tenure, administrative competence, separation methods, and implications for policy and practice.…

Chronically poor teaching by marginal staff is damaging to a school. Inept and ill-prepared teachers lose control of their classrooms, generating a ripple effect throughout the school and the community. Principals must erase this mediocrity by effectively salvaging marginal performers possessing training deficiencies or personal problems and…

Before deciding to recommend nonrenewal of a teacher's contract, the principal must be prepared to identify specific areas where significant improvement is critical and to provide maximum possible assistance. Some tips are provided to help principals prepare the formal evaluation, lend assistance, make the final decision, and live with it. (MLH)

Summarizes a case involving a teacher's use of a "magic rock" to enhance students' self-esteem. The teacher's eventual dismissal turned on unfavorable performance evaluations, not religious beliefs. The Eighth Circuit Court's decision to award front pay instead of reinstatement achieved the right result for the wrong reason, harbinging…

Argues that explanations for shifts in employment patterns of women educators ignore the impact of homophobia and gender role stereotypes. Shows that, after World War II, increased gender role polarization pressured women to assume gender-specific roles, attitudes, and experiences and led to dismissal of teachers thought to be homosexual. (SK)

Proposition 74 on the Nov. 8, 2005 ballot would change employment terms for certificated school employees, such as teachers, school librarians, counselors, nurses, and instructional specialists. Because the largest population affected is teachers, most discussions of the ballot measure--also known as the teacher tenure or Put Kids First…