SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1735        FILED ON: 1/14/2009

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 232

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act Relative to Dismissal Rights for K-12 Educational Support Personnel..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  Section 42 of Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the second paragraph and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

A teacher or other employee who has been working in a school system for at least ninety calendar days shall not be dismissed unless he has been furnished with written notice of intent to dismiss and with an explanation of the grounds for the dismissal in sufficient detail to permit the teacher or other employee to respond and documents relating to the grounds for dismissal, and, if he so requests, has been given a reasonable opportunity within ten school days after receiving such written notice to review the decision with the principal or superintendent, as the case may be, and to present information pertaining to the basis for the decision and to the status of the teacher or other employee.  The teacher or other employee receiving such notice may be represented by an attorney or other representative at such a meeting with the principal or superintendent.  Teachers without professional teacher status shall otherwise be deemed employees at will.