§18-17-8 Continuing contract status established; dismissal and suspension procedures. - West Virginia Statutes

§18-17-8. Continuing contract status established; dismissal and suspension procedures.
Before entering upon their duties, all teachers shall execute a contract with the state board of education, which contract shall state the salary to be paid and shall be in the form prescribed by the state superintendent of schools. Every such contract shall be signed by the teacher and by the president and secretary of the state board of education.

A teacher's contract, under this section, shall be for a term of not less than one nor more than three years; and if, after three years of such employment, the teacher who holds a professional certificate, based on at least a bachelor's degree, has met the qualifications for the same, and the board of education enter into a new contract of employment, it shall be a continuing contract.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the state board of education may suspend or dismiss any teacher subject to the provisions of this article, with continuing contract status, for immorality, incompetency, cruelty, insubordination, intemperance or willful neglect of duty, but the charges shall be stated in writing and the teacher affected shall be given an opportunity to be heard by the state board upon not less than ten days' written notice, which charges and notice shall be served on the teacher within five days of the presentation of the charges to the state board. The hearing may be held at a regular meeting of the state board or at a special meeting called for that purpose.