FILE:  GBNA

Cf:  GBI

 

REDUCTION OF PERSONNEL

 

 

Consistent with the functions and responsibilities of the Lafayette Parish School Board it shall be the policy of the Board to maintain a fair and balanced educational program. When faced with circumstances which may necessitate a reduction of personnel all feasible alternatives to layoffs of employees will be considered prior to the implementation of the provisions stated herein.  The School Board shall determine the necessity of a reduction in personnel by a majority vote of Board members present and voting.  After such determination is made the Superintendent shall be responsible for implementing the reduction in force in accordance with policy as follows.

 

Except as otherwise provided herein, any existing procedure for reconsidering or examining an employee discharge, non-reappointment, or grievance shall not be considered in implementing a reduction of personnel action.  Similarly, no personnel action other than a reduction of personnel may be considered under this policy.

 

Employees on Board approved leaves of absence shall be treated in the same manner as other regularly employed personnel insofar as application of this policy.

 

TEACHERS AND SCHOOL-BASED ADMINISTRATORS

 

Reduction of teachers and administrators shall be based solely upon demand, performance, and effectiveness, as determined by the performance evaluation program adopted by the Board in accordance with La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:3881 through 3905.  Any reduction of teachers and administrators by the Superintendent shall be instituted by dismissing the least effective teacher within each targeted subject area or area of certification first.  Further reductions will proceed based upon an effectiveness rating governed by mandated, data-driven evaluation of student growth and professional practices until the reduction of personnel has been accomplished.

 

In the event that two or more teachers have the same effectiveness rating, the following criteria shall be applied in the order listed:

 

  1. Certification

  2. Highly qualified status

  3. Education level

  4. Tenure

  5. Seniority

 

ALL OTHER EMPLOYEES

 

Reduction of school employees, including bus operators, who are not evaluated pursuant to La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:3881 through 3905, shall be based upon the following criteria:

 

  1. Performance and effectiveness as determined by the Board’s personnel evaluation plan.

  2. Certification or academic preparation, if applicable.

 

In no case shall seniority be used as the primary criterion when making decisions regarding the dismissal of school employees except for the dismissal of bus operators predicated on the alteration of routes.

 

In the event that one or more bus operators must be removed due to the abolition, discontinuance, or consolidation of routes, after a determination of the School Board, the principle of seniority shall apply, so that the last school bus operator hired within the school system shall be the first to be removed.

 

NOTICE TO INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYEE

 

When a reduction of personnel action is instituted, written notice of termination shall be given by the Superintendent or his/her designee by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the employee to be terminated.  The notice shall include a statement of the general conditions requiring a reduction of personnel.  The employee’s address, as it appears on the School Board’s record, shall be deemed to be the correct address.  It shall be the employee’s responsibility to see that the School Board has his/her current address on file.

 

REVIEW OF INDIVIDUAL TERMINATIONS

 

Within ten (10) days after receiving a notice of termination, an employee may request, in writing, a review of the action taken and shall receive notice of the results of the review in a timely manner, but no later than ten (10) days after the notice to review is received.  The employee shall have the right to pursue a reduction action through the Board’s grievance procedures.

 

SEVERABILITY OF PROVISIONS

 

If any provision of this policy or the application thereof is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions of this policy which can be implemented without the invalid provisions and, to this end, the provisions of this policy are hereby declared severable.

 

Any and all provisions of this policy shall yield to existing state law, whether statutory or not, when held to be in conflict with said law or laws.

 

Approved:  December 21, 1983

Revised:  September 5, 2012

Revised:  May 2, 2018

 

 

Ref:    La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§17:81, 17:81.4, 17:493

Board minutes, 12-21-83, 9-5-12, 5-2-18

 

Lafayette Parish School Board