Chapter 257

2013 -- H 6271

Enacted 07/15/13

A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION - RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF TEACHERS GENERALLY

Introduced By: Representatives Casey, Phillips, and Baldelli-Hunt

Date Introduced: June 20, 2013

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 16-12-6.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-12 entitled "Rights

and Duties of Teachers Generally" is hereby amended to read as follows:

16-12-6.1. Special rules as to Woonsocket and Cumberland Special rules as to

Cumberland. -- The respective school committees committee of the city of Woonsocket and the

town of Cumberland in electing teachers shall elect to serve at its discretion all teachers who have

served in the schools under its direction for the previous three (3) consecutive school years;

provided, that the respective school committees committee of the city of Woonsocket and the

town of Cumberland may elect to serve at its discretion any person who has served more than one

previous consecutive year. The respective school committees committee of the city of

Woonsocket and the town of Cumberland may dismiss a teacher within the year of employment

in the instance of teachers not employed at discretion, and at any time in the instance of teachers

employed at discretion by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the whole school committee for cause, which

may be a violation of law, flagrant or persistent violation of the rules and regulations legally

prescribed by the school committee, inefficiency, incapacity, insubordination, conduct

unbecoming a teacher, or other just cause; provided, that no teacher shall be dismissed unless he

or she has received a written copy of the charge or charges against him or her not less than thirty

(30) days before the meeting at which the charge or charges are to be considered, and unless the

teacher if he or she so requests it has been given a hearing before the school committee, and

unless the charge or charges has or have been admitted or substantiated; and provided, further,

that nothing in this section shall prevent the retirement of any teacher under a rule of the

respective school committee affecting marriage or for the purpose of chapter 15 of this title; or

the retirement at the end of any school year of any teacher whose services may no longer be

required by reason of the closing of schools or the discontinuance of classes; and provided,

further, that the respective school committees committee of the city of Woonsocket and the town

of Cumberland may suspend any teacher for cause pending a hearing, but that suspension shall

not involve loss of salary unless the cause is sufficient to justify dismissal as provided in this

section.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC02757

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