Opinion ID: 1725748
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: pertinent tenure act provisions

Text: MCL 38.71; MSA 15.1971 provides: The term `teacher' as used in this act shall include all certificated persons employed for a full school year by any board of education or controlling board of any public educational institution. It is clear from this statutory language that a superintendent can be a teacher under the act. The tenure commission has so held: We previously have held that article I, § 1 of the tenure act includes superintendent within the term teacher, Anderson v Westwood Community School District [State Tenure Commission, Docket No. 70-13]. MCL 38.81; MSA 15.1981 provides: All teachers during the first 2 school years of employment shall be deemed to be in a period of probation. (Emphasis added.) This provision is not limited to classroom teachers and would apply to any one defined as a teacher by the act. The following sections of the tenure act provide that a teacher completing the required years of probation has tenure unless notified otherwise by the controlling board. MCL 38.91; MSA 15.1991 states: After the satisfactory completion of the probationary period, a teacher shall be employed continuously by the controlling board under which the probationary period has been completed, and shall not be dismissed or demoted except as specified in this act. MCL 38.83; MSA 15.1983 states: At least 60 days before the close of each school year the controlling board shall provide the probationary teacher with a definite written statement as to whether or not his work has been satisfactory. Failure to submit a written statement shall be considered as conclusive evidence that the teacher's work is satisfactory. Any probationary teacher or teacher not on continuing contract shall be employed for the ensuing year unless notified in writing at least 60 days before the close of the school year that his services will be discontinued. The act also places a limit on the number of years a teacher with tenure may be required to serve in another school district to fulfill the probation requirement. If a teacher on continuing tenure is employed by another controlling board, he shall not be subject to another probationary period of more than 1 year. MCL 38.92; MSA 15.1992. MCL 38.172; MSA 15.2054 prohibits a teacher from waiving any rights and privileges: No teacher may waive any rights and privileges under this act in any contract or agreement made with a controlling board. Under MCL 38.91; MSA 15.1991, a superintendent may waive tenure rights as a superintendent, but only after completion of tenure as a teacher. If the controlling board shall provide in a contract of employment of any teacher employed other than as a classroom teacher, including but not limited to, a superintendent, assistant superintendent, principal, department head or director of curriculum, made with such teacher after the completion of the probationary period, that such teacher shall not be deemed to be granted continuing tenure in such capacity by virtue of such contract of employment, then such teacher shall not be granted tenure in such capacity, but shall be deemed to have been granted continuing tenure as an active classroom teacher in such school district. Upon the termination of any such contract of employment, if such controlling board shall not re-employ such teacher under contract in any such capacity, such teacher shall be continuously employed by such controlling board as an active classroom teacher. (Emphasis added.)