ORS 342.895
Contract teachers

  • procedure for dismissal or contract nonextension
  • appeal

(1)

Contract teachers shall be employed by a school district pursuant to two-year employment contracts.

(2)

Authority to dismiss or not extend a contract teacher is vested in the district school board subject to the provisions of the fair dismissal and contract extension procedures of ORS 342.805 (Short title) to 342.937 (Reimbursement for teacher dismissal costs) and only after recommendation of the dismissal or nonextension of contract is given to the district school board by the superintendent.

(3)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

At least 20 days before recommending to a board the dismissal of the contract teacher, the district superintendent shall give written notice to the contract teacher by certified mail or delivered in person of the intention to make a recommendation to dismiss the teacher. The notice shall set forth the statutory grounds upon which the superintendent believes such dismissal is justified, and shall contain a plain and concise statement of the facts relied on to support the statutory grounds for dismissal. If the statutory grounds specified are those specified in ORS 342.865 (Grounds for dismissal or contract nonextension of contract teacher) (1)(a), (c), (d), (g) or (h), then evidence shall be limited to those allegations supported by statements in the personnel file of the teacher on the date of the notice to recommend dismissal, maintained as required in ORS 342.850 (Teacher evaluation). Notice shall also be sent to the district school board and to the Fair Dismissal Appeals Board. A copy of ORS 342.805 (Short title) to 342.937 (Reimbursement for teacher dismissal costs) shall also be sent to the contract teacher.

(b)

If, after the 20-day notice required by paragraph (a) of this subsection, the district school board takes action to approve the recommendation for dismissal from the superintendent, the dismissal takes effect on or after the date of the district school board’s action, as specified by the board. Notice of the board’s action shall be given to the contract teacher as soon as practicable by certified mail, return receipt requested or in the manner provided by law for the service of a summons in a civil action.

(4)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Upon recommendation of the district superintendent, the district school board may extend a contract teacher’s employment for a new two-year term by providing written notice to the teacher no later than March 15 of the first year of the contract. Any new contract that extends the teacher’s employment for a new term shall replace any prior contracts.

(b)

If the district school board does not extend a contract teacher’s contract by March 15 of the first year of the contract, the district superintendent, or the superintendent’s designee, shall place the teacher on a program of assistance for improvement. The district superintendent or the superintendent’s designee may, in addition, place any other teacher on a program of assistance for improvement if in the judgment of the district superintendent or designee a program of assistance for improvement is needed.

(c)

Provided that the district school board has not extended the teacher’s contract for a new two-year term, the district board, upon recommendation of the superintendent, may elect by written notice to the teacher no later than March 15 of the second year of the teacher’s contract not to extend the teacher’s contract based on any ground specified in ORS 342.865 (Grounds for dismissal or contract nonextension of contract teacher). A contract teacher whose contract is not extended may appeal the nonextension to the Fair Dismissal Appeals Board.

(5)

Notwithstanding ORS 243.650 (Definitions for ORS 243.650 to 243.809) to 243.809 (Determinations regarding alleged misconduct of law enforcement officer in accordance with uniform standards) or the provisions of any collective bargaining agreement entered into after August 15, 1997, no grievance or other claim of violation of applicable evaluation procedures, or fundamental unfairness in a program of assistance for improvement, shall be filed while a teacher is on a program of assistance. All statutes of limitation and grievance timelines shall be tolled while the subject claims are held in abeyance under this moratorium provision. Except as provided in this subsection, the moratorium and tolling period ends on the date the program of assistance for improvement is completed, not to exceed one year, after which any claims subject to this provision may be pursued as otherwise provided by law or contract. In the case of a contract teacher who does not receive contract extension by March 15 of the first year of the teacher’s contract, the moratorium period shall last until the teacher receives notice of contract extension or nonextension and no later than March 15 of the following school year, or until the teacher receives notice of dismissal. A contract teacher who is dismissed or receives notice of contract nonextension, and who appeals to the Fair Dismissal Appeals Board, may raise any claims subject to this moratorium provision before the Fair Dismissal Appeals Board, which shall have jurisdiction to decide such claims. If the teacher does raise claims covered by this moratorium provision in an appeal to the Fair Dismissal Appeals Board, such appeal shall be the teacher’s sole and exclusive remedy. If a contract teacher does not appeal a contract nonextension or dismissal to the Fair Dismissal Appeals Board but instead pursues contract grievances to arbitration alleging a violation of evaluation procedures or fundamental unfairness in a program of assistance for improvement, the arbitrator shall not have authority to award reinstatement of the contract teacher, but may award other remedies including but not limited to back pay, front pay, compensatory damages and such further relief as the arbitrator deems appropriate. A program of assistance for improvement shall not be technically construed, and no alleged error or unfairness in a program of assistance shall cause the overturning of a dismissal, nonextension of contract, nonrenewal of contract or other disciplinary actions unless the contract teacher suffered a substantial and prejudicial impairment in the teacher’s ability to comply with school district standards.

(6)

No teacher may be dismissed, laid off or caused to suffer nonextension or nonrenewal of a contract based upon the teacher’s salary placement or other compensation. [1965 c.608 §11; 1971 c.570 §7; 1973 c.298 §5; 1977 c.881 §5; 1979 c.668 §3; 1997 c.864 §12]

Source: Section 342.895 — Contract teachers; procedure for dismissal or contract nonextension; appeal, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors342.­html.

See also annotations under ORS 342.508 in permanent edition.

Notes of Decisions

A witness otherwise qualified as an expert who himself has not furnished information or data found in the personnel file is not thereby disqualified as a witness under this section. Sch. Dist. 48 v. Fair Dismissal Appeals Bd., 14 Or App 634, 514 P2d 1114 (1973)

Where facts relied upon by school board to dismiss teacher were found by Fair Dismissal Appeals Board to be true, Board may not reverse school board action unless no reasonable school board could have regarded facts as sufficient to support statutory grounds for dismissal. Lincoln County School District v. Mayer, 39 Or App 99, 591 P2d 755 (1979), Sup Ct review denied

Where procedural prerequisites of this section were not followed in transfer of senior high school principals to positions as junior high school principals, relief should first have been sought from Fair Dismissal Appeals Board. Zollinger v. Warner, 286 Or 19, 593 P2d 1107 (1979)

Where reports of parental complaints were included in teacher’s personnel file, hearsay evidence was admissible in Fair Dismissal Appeals Board proceeding concerning teacher’s dismissal on grounds of “inadequate performance.” Vorm v. School Dist. No. 40, 45 Or App 225, 608 P2d 193 (1980)

Notice of dismissal must contain statement of facts which expressly sets out nexus between teacher’s conduct and teaching responsibilities or from which such connection may obviously be inferred and where notice informed teacher that acts constituting “gross unfitness” and “immorality” consisted of 12 instances of battery, 11 of which involved offensive sexual contact with student in district where respondent taught who was same approximate age as respondent’s students, nexus may obviously be inferred. Shipley v. Salem School Dist 24J, 64 Or App 777, 669 P2d 1172 (1983), Sup Ct review denied

Where formal notice procedure is not followed, district school board may not take action to dismiss teacher and period for appealing dismissal is tolled. Post v. Salem-Keizer School District, 334 Or 61, 45 P3d 116 (2002)

Moratorium on filing of grievances while teacher is on plan of assistance does not suspend processing of grievances pending at time plan of assistance commences. Lane Unified Bargaining Council v. South Lane School District 45J3, 334 Or 157, 47 P3d 4 (2002)

Law Review Citations

34 WLR 269 (1998)

342.120
Definitions for chapter
342.121
Teacher and administrator licensing
342.122
National Board Certification Fund
342.123
Knowledge of civil rights laws and ethical standards required
342.125
Types of licenses
342.127
Fees
342.130
Certain existing certificates and licenses not invalidated
342.136
Preliminary teaching license, personnel service license and administrative license
342.137
Distinguished teacher leader license
342.138
Professional teaching license, professional personnel service license and professional administrative license
342.143
Issuance of licenses and registrations
342.144
American Indian languages teaching license
342.147
Approval of educator preparation providers and educator preparation programs
342.153
Proficiency in Braille required for teaching license to provide education to blind students
342.165
Commission rules
342.173
Effect of employing certain persons
342.175
Grounds for discipline
342.176
Complaint process
342.177
Hearing and decision on charges
342.180
Appeal
342.183
Letters of informal reproval
342.192
Licensing requirements for out-of-state applicants
342.195
Teaching licenses based on experience in certain federal programs
342.200
Administrative licenses based on professional skills and experience
342.202
Administrator comprehensive leadership development system
342.203
Publication of list of teachers, administrators and teacher candidates subjected to discipline
342.208
Model career pathways for instructional assistants to become licensed teachers
342.223
Criminal records check
342.350
Commission established
342.360
Members
342.380
Organization
342.390
Meetings
342.410
Executive director
342.420
Member’s salary
342.425
Annual report on duties, powers and functions of commission
342.430
Teacher Standards and Practices Commission Account
342.433
Definitions for ORS 342.433 to 342.449
342.437
Goal
342.443
Reports of longitudinal data
342.447
Plans for recruitment, admission, retention and graduation of diverse educators
342.448
Reports related to implementation of Educators Equity Act
342.449
Short title
342.455
Definition of “school nurse.”
342.465
Rules
342.475
School nurses
342.485
Commission to consult with and advise Oregon State Board of Nursing on school nursing
342.495
Holder of school nurse certificate qualified to conduct and coordinate health services program
342.513
Renewal or nonrenewal of contracts for following year
342.521
Contracts with teachers for return of part of salary prohibited
342.545
Termination of teacher’s contract
342.549
Administrator contracts
342.553
Discipline for resigning without providing required notice
342.608
Working hours for licensed personnel
342.610
Minimum salary for substitute teachers
342.664
Required ratio of pupils to staff holders of first aid cards
342.700
Policy on sexual harassment
342.704
Adoption of policies on sexual harassment required
342.708
ORS 342.700 and 342.704 not limitation on or prerequisite for other rights and remedies
342.721
Definitions for ORS 342.723 and 342.726
342.723
Prohibitions on school district employees
342.726
Curricula to include information on steroids and performance-enhancing substances
342.805
Short title
342.815
Definitions for ORS 342.805 to 342.937
342.835
Probationary teacher
342.840
Determination of length of service for probationary teacher
342.845
Contract teacher
342.850
Teacher evaluation
342.856
Core teaching standards
342.865
Grounds for dismissal or contract nonextension of contract teacher
342.875
Suspension
342.895
Contract teachers
342.905
Appeal procedure
342.910
Waiver of contract grievance claim if appeal of dismissal decision filed
342.930
Fair Dismissal Appeals Board
342.934
Procedure for reduction of teacher staff due to funding or administrative decision
342.937
Reimbursement for teacher dismissal costs
342.940
Educator Advancement Council
342.943
System of educator networks
342.953
Educator Advancement Fund
342.961
Internal investigations of employee misconduct or wrongdoing
342.965
Interchange of teachers
342.971
Educator Preparation Improvement Fund
342.974
Oregon Education Support Professional of the Year Program
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