Dees granted hearing
The hearing procedure for a Marion Elementary School guidance counselor whose contract was non-renewed three weeks ago will go forward.
The Board of Education of USD 408 approved continuing the procedure Tuesday at a special midday meeting. Its only alternative would have been to renew the counselor, the board agreed.
Kerry Dees was informed on April 15 that her contract would not be renewed for another year, Superintendent of Schools Gerald Henderson said.
She requested, on April 30, that the matter be heard by a hearing officer.
The board approved engaging the services of a Kansas Association of School Boards attorney to represent the school board at the due-process hearing.
KASB will provide an attorney with expertise in such hearings. KASB attorneys handle such matters many times each year, Henderson said.
The attorney's fees will range between $3,000 and $5,000. The fees for the hearing officer and for a certified shorthand reporter also must be paid by the school district.
The hearing must begin within 45 calendar days after a hearing officer is selected, unless the hearing officer grants a time extension.
The hearing officer must render his or her decision on the matter within 30 days after the end of the hearing. The hearing officer's decision is final, subject to appeal to district court by either party.
Because of declining enrollment at the elementary school, it was felt that dropping Dees's position would have a less harmful impact on students than eliminating any other position, Henderson said.
On another matter, Henderson said the district is designing a brochure to send out, along with the Chamber of Commerce's magazine-type brochure about Marion County, in an attempt to attract more high-quality teachers to Marion.
Specifically, the district is looking for a vocal music teacher for grades 7-12.
The brochures will be sent to all vocal music teachers currently teaching in Kansas schools in Classes 1A, 2A, and 3A, Henderson said.
