§ 16-13-4 - Statement of cause for dismissal – Hearing – Appeals – Arbitration. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 16-13-4

   § 16-13-4  Statement of cause for dismissal– Hearing – Appeals – Arbitration. – (a) The statement of cause for dismissal shall be given to the teacher, inwriting, by the governing body of the schools at least one month prior to theclose of the school year. The teacher may, within fifteen (15) days of thenotification, request, in writing, a hearing before the full board. The hearingshall be public or private, in the discretion of the teacher. Both teacher andschool board shall be entitled to be represented by counsel and to presentwitnesses. The board shall keep a complete record of the hearing and shallfurnish the teacher with a copy. Any teacher aggrieved by the decision of theschool board shall have the right of appeal to the department of elementary andsecondary education and shall have the right of further appeal to the superiorcourt.

   (b) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed toprohibit or at any time to have prohibited a school committee from agreeing, ina collective bargaining agreement, to the arbitration of disputes arising outof the nonrenewal, dismissal, and/or suspension of a teacher pursuant to§§ 16-13-2, 16-13-3, and/or 16-13-5.