3131 - REDUCTION IN STAFF

Nettle Creek School Corporation

Bylaws & Policies

3131 - REDUCTION IN STAFF
Reduction in the Number of Professional Positions and Recall: Teachers

When the Nettle Creek Board of Education determines that a reduction in the number of teacher employees must be made, the following provisions shall serve as guidelines to the Superintendent in making any recommendations concerning teacher layoff or discharge:

	A.	The Superintendent of Schools shall first consider and determine the appropriateness of reducing staff through elimination of positions which have become vacant through attrition (e.g., resignations, retirement).
	B.	Following the considerations set forth in Paragraph One (1) hereinabove, the Superintendent of Schools, when recommending to the Board the layoff or dismissal of teacher(s) due to reduction in force, shall use the following factors:

		1.	teacher’s certification area(s);
		2.	length of teaching experience in the Nettle Creek school system;

			a.	length of service is defined as the teacher’s length of continuous service from his/her date of last employment in the Nettle Creek School Corporation; continuous service is not deemed to be interrupted by an approved leave;
			b.	when two (2) or more teachers have the same length of service, the teacher that signed his/her individual contract first with the School Corporation shall be considered senior;

		3.	demonstrated proficiency in teaching performance and other duty assignment;
		4.	length of teaching experience in the assigned subject area(s).

	C.	The Superintendent of Schools shall give due consideration to the factors stipulated in Item B during the two (2) year period, hereinabove and any other facts bearing directly upon a given teacher when teacher recall is contemplated. Notice of recall to work after a layoff given by the Board shall be by registered or certified mail addressed to the teacher at his/her last address appearing on the records of the Board.
	D.	Any teacher who was subject to a reduction in force shall be considered for recall under the provisions contained herein for a period of time not to exceed two (2) years from the date of the layoff; provided, however, that a teacher so notified of recall shall report to work on the date and at the time specified in the recall notice. Failure to report to work as specified in the notice provided herein, shall result in forfeiture of recall status, and any employment relationship shall be considered terminated.
	E.	Length of teaching experience in the school system shall be considered to be broken for purposes of this provision when any of the following occur:

		1.	the teacher resigns;
		2.	the teacher is discharged;
		3.	the teacher fails to report for work within twenty-one (21) working days after receipt of written notice of recall to work after a layoff given by the Board by registered or certified mail addressed to the employee at his/her last address appearing on the records of the Board. In the unforeseen event that a teacher is unable to return within the twenty-one (21) day limit because of illness or physical incapacity, such teacher shall return as soon as s/he is released by his/her doctor’s care providing the teacher reports no later than the first day of the semester following recall notice.

	F.	The NCCTA president will be notified by letter of intended positions of reduction in force within five (5) days of determination by the Superintendent.
		When a position is deemed to be unnecessary, the teacher involved has a ten (10) day (school year) and twenty (20) day (summer) period of grace to notify the Corporation of any exceptions to their qualifying for another positions on the staff.
	G.	Teachers who have been laid off will be recalled on the basis of the criteria specified in Item B.
	H.	Any teacher who is laid off shall be offered daily substitute positions as needed at the prevailing substitute rate as established by the Board.