HB 1030 -- Teacher Termination Proceedings

Sponsor:  Stream

This bill allows local school boards to adopt an alternative
procedure for dismissing tenured teachers by using an impartial
hearing officer rather than a hearing before the board.  If a
hearing is to be held before a hearing officer, the
superintendent must notify the Labor and Industrial Relations
Commission within the Department of Labor and Industrial
Relations, which will provide within five days a list of five
prospective impartial hearing officers who are accredited by a
national arbitration organization and are not residents of the
district.  The commission will also establish uniform rules of
procedure for the hearings, which are to be held from 30 to 45
days after the selection of the hearing officer unless there is a
mutual arrangement for a different time period.  Hearings must be
public unless closed at the request of the teacher.  The bill
contains provisions regarding representation by counsel,
subpoenas, and the record of testimony.  The hearing officer must
provide a recommendation no later than 30 days after the hearing
concludes, and the recommendation may include an advisory opinion
for discipline rather than dismissal or an extended meet-and-
confer period.  The board must make its final decision within 30
days after receipt of the hearing officer's recommendation.  An
appeal on a decision of the board may be made to the circuit
court in the county where the school district is located.

The bill also removes the provisions regarding the separate
dismissal procedure for teachers employed by the St. Louis City
School District.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated November 17, 2009 at 9:26 am