2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 20-A: EDUCATION › Part 6: TEACHERS › Chapter 504: EMPLOYMENT OF PRINCIPALS › 20-A §13303. Contract renewal

§13303. Contract renewal
1.  Notice.
A school board shall provide notice of the renewal or nonrenewal of a principal's employment contract as follows.
A. Notwithstanding any contract provision to the contrary and no later than March 1st of the year the contract expires, the school board shall notify a principal who has been employed by the board for more than 2 years of its decision to renew the principal's contract for a period not to exceed 3 years or not to renew the principal's contract. Notice of a principal's nonrenewal of contract must be in writing. Upon written request, the school board shall provide a written statement of the reasons for nonrenewal to a principal.   [PL 1991, c. 556, §1 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 556, §2 (AFF).]
B. Notwithstanding any contract provision to the contrary and no later than April 1st of the year the contract expires, the school board shall notify a principal who has been employed by the board for 2 years or less of its decision to renew the principal's contract for a period not to exceed 3 years or not to renew the principal's contract. Notice of nonrenewal of a principal's contract must be in writing.   [PL 1991, c. 556, §1 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 556, §2 (AFF).]
[PL 1991, c. 556, §1 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 556, §2 (AFF).]
2.  Failure to give notice.
If the board fails to notify the principal in accordance with subsection 1, the following provisions apply.
A. A principal may request in writing within 15 days of the March 1st or April 1st notice deadline, as applicable, a meeting with the school board to discuss contract renewal issues. The board shall hold that meeting within 30 days of receipt of the principal's request.   [PL 1991, c. 556, §1 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 556, §2 (AFF).]
B. A school administrative unit shall pay a forfeiture to the principal. The amount of that forfeiture is equal to the sum of 1/260th of the principal's present annual salary rate multiplied by the number of days between the notification deadline and the date on which notification is made or a complaint is filed in accordance with this paragraph. A principal who believes notice has not been provided as required in subsection 1 may file a complaint with the commissioner. Following the filing of a complaint, the commissioner shall make a determination of whether the school board has failed to notify the principal as required by subsection 1 and of the amount of forfeiture due. If a complaint is not filed within 30 days after the termination of the principal's contract, the right to a forfeiture is no longer available.   [PL 1991, c. 556, §1 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 556, §2 (AFF).]
[PL 1991, c. 556, §1 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 556, §2 (AFF).]
3.  Hearing.
Within 15 days of receipt of notice of nonrenewal of a contract by a principal who has been employed for more than 2 years, the principal may request in writing a hearing with the school board on the decision not to renew the contract. The board shall hold the hearing within 30 days of receipt of the principal's request and either or both parties may be represented by counsel.
[PL 1991, c. 556, §1 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 556, §2 (AFF).]
4.  Meeting.
Within 15 days of receipt of notice of nonrenewal of a contract by a principal who has been employed for 2 years or less, the principal may request in writing a meeting with the school board to discuss contract renewal issues. The board shall hold the meeting within 30 days of receipt of the principal's request and either or both parties may be represented by counsel.
[PL 1991, c. 556, §1 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 556, §2 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1991, c. 556, §1 (NEW). PL 1991, c. 556, §2 (AFF).