Permanent Teachers

1. Permanent teachers must submit written notice of their intent to resign or retire on or before June 15 of each school year.
2. Permanent teachers who provide written notice of the intent to resign or retire after June 1 of a school year have no legal right to be released from their contracts.
3. Requests to resign or retire after June 15 will be considered by the Board of Education on an individual basis.
4. The factors to be considered in determining whether a permanent teacher shall be released after June 1 include but are not limited to the following:
   1. The time of year the notice of resignation or retirement is received, and the effective date of the resignation or retirement;
   2. The difficulty in locating a qualified replacement for the teacher due to the subject area, time of year, or other factors regarding the subject and/or grade level taught;
   3. The disruption to the educational process, even if a suitable replacement is found;
   4. Whether the reason for the request constitutes good cause, hardship, or other appropriate justification for release from the contract.

Probationary Teachers

5. Once a probationary teacher has signed a contract individually approved by the Board of Education, that contract is binding for the school year identified therein.
6. Requests to resign or retire after a probationary contract has been signed will be considered by the Board of Education on an individual basis.
7. The factors to be considered in determining whether a probationary teacher shall be released after signing a probationary contract are identical to those in No. 4 above.

All Contracted Employees

8. Contracted employees may be released from their contracts only by vote of the Board of Education. There is no provision for automatic release upon the payment of liquidated damages.
9. As a general rule, contracted employees will not be released solely because they have been offered or have accepted a different employment opportunity.
10. Contracted employees who abandon their contracts without consent of the Board of Education will be subject to legal action under law and Board Policy, including but not limited to, possible revocation of the contracted employee’s certificate of license to teach.
11. Contracted employees who are released from their contracts by consent of the Board will be subject to liquidated damages in return for such release in accordance with the following schedule:
    1. Resignation or retirement after June 15, but before July 1, 2.75% of annual salary
    2. Resignation or retirement after July 1, but before August 1, 5.5% of annual salary
    3. Resignation or retirement after August 1, but before September 1, 8.15% of annual salary
    4. Resignation after September 1, 13.5% of annual salary
12. Absent unusual circumstances, the liquidated damages must be submitted to the district via cashier’s check prior to any vote to release the contracted employee from his or her contract.
13. If the contracted employee’s request is denied, the liquidated damages submitted to the district pending the Board vote will be returned to the contracted employee promptly.