Opinion ID: 1725748
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: application to appellant bode

Text: Bode has been in the field of education for 28 years, and a teacher under the act for 14 years. From 1950 to 1964, when the act became mandatory, he served in school districts which had not elected to come under its provisions. When the act became mandatory he was in the middle of a two-year contract at Leslie, Michigan. He was not reappointed in Leslie, and, because of the nature of the grandfather clause, [2] did not qualify for tenure. Bode's first position entirely under the act, after it became mandatory, was with the Clintondale School District from 1967-1970, as a superintendent. The rule is that at the end of the second year a teacher is deemed to have successfully completed probation and obtained tenure unless notified otherwise according to the provisions of MCL 38.83; MSA 15.1983 and MCL 38.81; MSA 15.1981. Bode was not notified that his work was unsatisfactory and should have obtained tenure. But it is claimed that Bode's contract with the Clintondale School District containing a provision excluding tenure precluded obtaining tenure. However, the tenure act provides that a contractual waiver by a teacher in an administrative position can only be made with such teacher after the completion of the probationary period. MCL 38.91; MSA 15.1991. Since Bode had never achieved tenure, the waiver was illegal and of no force and effect. Consequently, plaintiff obtained tenure as a classroom teacher after his first two years of service without notification his work was unsatisfactory. Therefore, we agree with the tenure commission that while Bode did not gain tenure as a superintendent during his employment with the Clintondale School District, he did gain tenure in position as a teacher having served for the statutory two years probationary period;   . When Bode moved to Roseville, his service as acting superintendent for one year satisfied the requirement of a probationary period. MCL 38.92; MSA 15.1992. He was not notified that his work was unsatisfactory, MCL 38.83; MSA 15.1983, and therefore received tenure as a teacher. The tenure commission, however, held that Bode received tenure as a superintendent while in the position of acting superintendent. We disagree. Plaintiff could not acquire service toward tenure as a superintendent, because the resolution appointing him as acting superintendent clearly indicated that the board considered the superintendent's position still under search. Bode had tenure when he began the contract for superintendent effective July 1, 1971. He waived his right to tenure in the administrative capacity but not as a classroom teacher.