168.118. Termination hearing, procedure, costs.

406 words·~2 min read·/mo/chapter-168/168-118

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

168.118. Termination hearing, procedure, costs. — If a hearing is requested on the termination of an indefinite contract it shall be conducted by the board of education in accordance with the following provisions:

(1)The hearing shall be public;

(2)Both the teacher and the person filing charges may be represented by counsel who may cross-examine witnesses;

(3)Testimony at hearings shall be on oath or affirmation administered by the president of the board of education, who for the purpose of hearings held under sections 168.102 to 168.130 shall have the authority to administer oaths;

(4)The school board shall have the power to subpoena witnesses and documentary evidence as provided in section 536.077 and shall do so on its own motion or at the request of the teacher against whom charges have been made. The school board shall hear testimony of all witnesses named by the teacher; however, the school board may limit the number of witnesses to be subpoenaed on behalf of the teacher to not more than ten;

(5)The board of education shall employ a stenographer who shall make a full record of the proceedings of the hearings and who shall, within ten days after the conclusion thereof, furnish the board of education and the teacher, at no cost to the teacher, with a copy of the transcript of the record, which shall be certified by the stenographer to be complete and correct. The transcript shall not be open to public inspection, unless the hearing on the termination of the contract was an open hearing or if an appeal from the decision of the board is taken by the teacher;

(6)All costs of the hearing shall be paid by the school board except the cost of counsel for the teacher;

(7)The decision of the board of education resulting in the demotion of a permanent teacher or the termination of an indefinite contract shall be by a majority vote of the members of the board of education and the decision shall be made within seven days after the transcript is furnished them. A written copy of the decision shall be furnished the teacher within three days thereafter.

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(L. 1969 p. 275 § 168.109)

(1974)Court rejected proposition that a breach of rules regarding sabbatical leave constituted an abandonment of his contract by a teacher and waived due process requirement of hearing. Lindberg School Dist. v. Syrewicz (A.), 516 S.W.2d 507.