Opinion ID: 2052836
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: burnsville eagan savage public schools teacher contract

Text: Independent School District No. 191 The School Board of Independent School District No. 191, of the State of Minnesota, enters into this agreement, pursuant to M.S. 125.12 as amended, with Stephen Poirier, a legally qualified and certificated teacher who agrees to teach in the public schools of said district as Secondary Instructor for the school year 74-75 (eff. 9/27/74-11/1/74). The following provisions shall apply and are a part of this contract: 1. Basic Services: Said teacher shall faithfully perform the teaching and other professional services prescribed by the school board or its designated representative, abide by the rules and regulations as established by the school board and any additions or amendments thereto for the annual salary indicated below, and agrees to teach in the schools of said district as assigned in such grades or subjects for which the teacher has the necessary certification. 2. Duration: This contract is subject to the provisions of M.S. 125.12 as amended and to all laws of the State of Minnesota relevant to qualification, certification, employment, termination and discharge for cause of teachers. Thereafter this contract shall remain in full force and effect except if modified by mutual consent of the school board and the teacher or unless terminated as provided by law, or by written resignation by the teacher. 3. Calendar: School year and vacation days shall be those named on the school calendar as adopted by the school board, and the teacher agrees to teach on those legal holidays on which the school board is authorized to conduct school if the school board so determines. 4. This contract shall be subject to and consistent with the Master Agreement between the school district and the exclusive representative and the provisions of P.E.L.R.A. Laws of Minnesota as amended. In consideration thereof, the school board agrees to pay said teacher the following annual salary: $1,109  1st qtr. (8500 × 24/184) for basic services. IN WITNESS THEREOF we have subscribed our signatures this 30th day of Sept., 1974. STEPHEN M. POIRIER Teacher EMERY H. WHITE Chairman MICHAEL E. YUIMU Clerk A portion of the trial court's memorandum accompanying his findings of fact and conclusions of law is herein set forth: In the stipulation of facts, both parties agreed that Section 125.12 is the applicable statute and that the petitioner is a probationary teacher within the meaning of that statute. Under Subdivision 3, any annual contract of a probationary teacher may or may not be renewed as the school board sees fit. Written notice of termination or non-renewal must be given before April 1st of that Academic year. If reasons for termination are requested by the teacher, the board must give a written explanation plus a statement of appropriate supervision within 10 days of receiving the request. According to the statutory language a probationary teacher is only afforded notice and hearing if discharged for cause during his contract term. The Court feels under the stipulated facts that the procedural requirements of the statute were complied with by the school board in determining a non-renewal of the contract herein. The central issue that appears to be presented to this Court is the problem that arises due to the `quarterly' nature of the contract. M.S.A. 125.12, Subdivision 3, clearly refers to `annual contracts' and `school year'. It would appear to this Court that the statute permits only one contract between a teacher and a school board in a single 12 month period. The entire statutory scheme centers around protecting teachers from arbitrary discharge while not placing unreasonable restrictions on the powers which a school board must possess to effectively administer operation of public schools. Keller vs. Independent School District No. 742, [302 Minn. 324] 224 N.W.2d 749. This Court feels that the contract is an annual contract within the meaning of Section 125.12. The contract specifically says it is `pursuant to M.S.A. 125.12 as amended.' Provision No. 2 referring to duration purports to make the statutory language applicable, the date specified in the contract form are the `school year 74-75', and the compensation is expressed in terms of `annual salary'. The only alteration on the face of the contract is a notation `(eff. 9/22/74-11/1/74)', which indicates that the petitioner's duties are to take place in that time period. The statute does not require that a teacher, as a party to either an annual or a continuing contract, provides services during the entire term of the contract. In fact in most school districts the practice has almost uniformly been to the contrary. It would appear to this Court that the parties may, under the reference statute, agree that the services to be performed by a teacher be in a period less than the term of the contract. It would therefore seem to this court that the annual contract between the petitioner and the school board which specifies that the petitioner's duties are to be performed during the first quarter is within the preview of the statute. The portion of the trial court memorandum cited above appears to us to be a sound interpretation of the statute. At oral argument counsel for the parties admitted that most contracts for a school year are for teaching assignments that consume only 9 to 10 months of the year. Counsel for appellant admitted that if a district were to adopt a 6 month semester basis with two semesters a year, it would be permitted under the statute to engage in the use of contracts for assignments of 6 months duration with two separate sets of teachers. If that is the case, we can see little merit in the distinction between the guarantee of a 6 month assignment and a 3 month assignment. Insofar as the effect of the extension of the contract in this case for a second quarter is concerned, we believe that it was simply a modification of the earlier contract. Modification of teachers' contracts are commonplace. Such flexibility must exist if school districts are to be administered effectively. As a result of the modification, if appellant had been rehired for a second year it would be required that the period of service be for a minimum of two quarters rather than one. Also, the contract gave the appellant one year's tenure because it was for the school year. [1] The trial court is affirmed. OTIS, J., took no part in the consideration or decision of this case.