Avery County Schools Policy Policy Code: 7930

CAREER EMPLOYEES: DEMOTION AND DISMISSAL

The board recognizes that an effective staff is critical to the smooth operations of the school district and to creating a learning environment where students can succeed. The board expects all professionally licensed employees, whether employed pursuant to a contract or through continuing career status, to exemplify above-average performance in carrying out their teaching or other professional responsibilities. Such employees are expected to continue to strive for excellence, meet all performance standards established by the board, and pursue professional development as provided in policy 1610/7800, Professional and Staff Development. Any professionally licensed employee who is unable or unwilling to meet the performance expectations or other reasonable standards of the board may be subject to demotion or dismissal as provided in this policy.

Evaluators of licensed employees are expected to follow policy 7810, Evaluation of Licensed Employees, policy 7820, Personnel Files and policy 7811, Plans for Growth and Improvement of Licensed Employees. Evaluators should provide the superintendent with carefully documented evidence concerning a person's inadequacies and lack of competencies when such deficiencies have led to the recommendation and contemplation of dismissal or demotion. These documents also should show ways in which the evaluator has endeavored to help the employee become a more effective professional. In the interest of students and the welfare of the school district, dismissal or demotion may be pursued regardless of whether the evaluator has met these expectations and regardless of whether the employee has first been placed on a growth plan or mandatory improvement plan, so long as the legal grounds for seeking dismissal or demotion can be sufficiently demonstrated.

All legally required procedures, including those prescribed the applicable state law, will be followed in the dismissal or demotion of employees. Career status teachers, non-career status teachers during the terms of their contracts, and school administrators during the terms of their contracts may be dismissed only for the following reasons:

1. inadequate performance, as defined by the applicable state statute;
2. immorality;
3. insubordination;
4. neglect of duty;
5. physical or mental incapacity;
6. habitual or excessive use of alcohol or non-medical use of a controlled substance as defined
   in Article 5, Chapter 90 of the General Statutes;
7. conviction of a felony or a crime involving moral turpitude;
8. advocating the overthrow of the government of the United States or of the state of North
   Carolina by force, violence, or other unlawful means;
9. failure to fulfill the duties and responsibilities imposed upon teachers or school
   administrators by the General Statutes;

Avery County Schools Policy Code: 7930 Page 1 of 1 10. failure to comply with such reasonable requirements as the board may prescribe; 11. any cause that constitutes grounds for the revocation of an employee’s teaching or school administrator license; 12. a justifiable decrease in the number of positions due to school system reorganization, decreased enrollment, or decreased funding, provided that there is full compliance with other statutory requirements; 13. failure to maintain one’s license in current status; 14. failure to repay money owed to the state in accordance with the provisions of Article 60, Chapter 143 of the General Statutes; and 15. providing false information or knowingly omitting a material fact on an application for employment or in response to a pre-employment inquiry.

Resignation by a teacher who has been recommended for dismissal under the applicable state statute is subject to the provisions of policy 7900, Resignation.

Legal References: G.S. 90 art. 5; 115C-287.1, -307, -325 (applicable to career status teachers), - 325.1 et seq. (applicable to non-career status teachers), -333, -333.1; 143 art. 60;16 NCAC 6C.0502

Cross References: Professional and Staff Development (policy 1610/7800), Staff Responsibilities (policy 7300), Job Descriptions (policy 7400), Teacher Contracts (policy 7410), School Administrator Contracts (policy 7425), Evaluation of Licensed Employees (policy 7810), Plans for Growth and Improvement of Licensed Employees (policy 7811), Personnel Files (policy 7820), Resignation (policy 7900), Non-Career Status Teachers: Nonrenewal (policy 7950)

Adopted: 7/01/02 Revised: 12/9/14; 11/16/17

Avery County Schools Policy Code: 7930 Page 2 of 1