The Board of Education recognizes its obligation to employ only those professional staff members best trained and equipped to meet the educational needs of the students of this District. The Board shall discharge that obligation by retaining in service only those probationary teachers who meet those standards.

Teachers, new to the District, who have not previously acquired tenure in the State of Michigan, shall be required to serve four (4) full school years of probation before becoming eligible for tenure in the District.

Teachers, new to the District, who have previously acquired tenure in any other Michigan school district, shall be required to serve no more than two (2) years of probation before becoming eligible for tenure in the District but may, at the Board’s option, be placed immediately on continuing tenure.

The Superintendent shall ensure that probationary teachers are evaluated in a timely manner by appropriate administrators, notified of areas of which performance is not meeting expectations, and are provided assistance in improving their performance. If the probationary teacher has been employed for at least one (1) full school year, a written Individualized Development Plan must be prepared.

The Board shall annually review the performance of all probationary teachers by a date adequate to ensure timely compliance with all statutory, contractual, and other applicable timelines. The Superintendent shall provide to the Board a written recommendation with regard to each such teacher specifically noting the extent to which the probationary teacher's performance is meeting District expectations. On the basis of its review, the Board may, in its discretion, (1) grant tenure if otherwise eligible; (2) non-renew employment based on unsatisfactory performance; or (3) continue the probationary period of employment if not otherwise eligible for tenure. The Board's review of such recommendation shall comport with all applicable statutory, contractual, and other legal requirements.

The Superintendent shall ensure that appropriate notices of the Board's actions are timely sent and delivered to all affected probationary teachers. The Superintendent shall further ensure that appropriate guidelines are drafted implementing the requirements of the Teacher Tenure Act.

M.C.L.A. 38.81 et seq.