23. SUSPENSION / DISMISSAL

23.1 SUSPENSION

23.1.1 When a teacher is involved in an incident related to his/her employment which the Superintendent feels warrants his review, the Superintendent shall hold a hearing with the parties involved in order to insure due process.
Within ten days after the review, the Superintendent will send his findings to the teacher. Under this provision, the teacher may be suspended without pay up to ten days.

23.1.2 If the teacher does not agree with the Superintendent's findings, he may appeal the Superintendent's decision to the School Board in writing within ten days. After the ten day period, the Superintendent's decision is final.

23.1.3 Upon appeal, the Board will review the issue within two official Board meetings after the request is made. The Board will submit its decision to the teacher within ten days after the review.

23.2 SUSPENSION PRIOR TO DISMISSAL PROCEEDINGS

23.2.1 Any Hillsborough County teacher arrested for a felony, or for a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude, may be immediately suspended from duty by the Superintendent according to the following procedure:

A. The Superintendent will notify the individual involved that he is relieving him of his assigned duties and is recommending him for suspension as of this date.

B. The Superintendent will notify the individual that he will recommend to the Board at its next meeting that proceedings be initiated.

C. The Superintendent will file charges against the teacher with the Board and request that a date be set to hear the charges.

D. The charges will be served on the teacher with a notice of time and place of the hearing. The teacher must be served notice of the charges not less than ten days prior to such hearing.

23.3 DISMISSAL FROM EMPLOYMENT

23.3.1 Any Hillsborough County teacher may be discharged from employment in accordance with the grounds and procedures set forth in the Hillsborough County Teacher Tenure Act.

23.3.2 The record of assistance provided for a teacher, shall be entered into evidence at any teacher dismissal hearing.

23.3.3 All conferences with teachers related to unsatisfactory performance after a teacher has been notified that dismissal proceedings are contemplated, shall be summarized in writing by the administrator with a copy furnished to the teacher. The teacher shall have the right to have a representative from the Association staff present at a conference related to teacher dismissal.

23.3.4 A teacher may submit written comments to be filed with a summary to any disagreement on the content.

23.3.5 Teachers under contract with the Board shall not be required to submit to a psychiatric examination unless the Superintendent contemplates bringing charges against said teacher pursuant to the Teacher Tenure Law. If such examination is requested, it shall be at the Board's expense. The institution of such a request and the results of the test shall be kept confidential by the Board unless formal charges are brought.

23.3.6 Teachers may request the building representative to be present at any meeting or conference related to a teacher's conduct or performance. The building representative will provide counsel to the teacher and act as a witness during the conference.

23.3.7 Teachers may request a member of the Association staff to be present at any meeting or conference related to a teacher's conduct or performance where a county-level administrator is present.