REDUCTION IN PROFESSIONAL STAFF WORKFORCE. As a result of authority granted to the Board of Education by Kansas statutes, the Board has the responsibility of determining composition of the professional staff necessary to implement and maintain educational programs of Unified School District 480. From time to time, as the result of decreasing enrollment, limited financial resources, changes in educational programs, or other circumstances, it may be necessary to reduce the number of certified employees employed by the District. A decision to reduce professional staff will, in all cases, remain within the sole discretion and judgment of the Board of Education. The Board may retain any certified employee who it deems necessary to staff all necessary programs of the District. It is the policy of this school system to use normal attrition of staff; i.e., resignations, retirement, leaves of absence, as the first means of achieving a reduction in professional staff. However, in certain cases, normal attrition may not be sufficient to achieve the necessary reduction of professional staff. In the event that further reduction of professional staff is necessary, it shall be accomplished in a fair and orderly manner as provided in this policy. The following steps will be utilized by the district’s administrative staff to reduce the teaching staff: To determine the number of teaching positions to be reduced, the administrative staff will ascertain the educational program for the district to meet the educational goals established by the Board. The number of certified employees needed to implement the district’s education program will then be determined by the administrative staff based on these educational goals as determined by the Board. All certified employees will be evaluated in relation to the educational goals of the district. Individual qualifications and specific skill areas or disciplines will be ascertained and applied to the certified employee needs of the district. Evaluation forms, instruments or tools will be used to measure each staff member’s teaching ability.
REDUCTION IN PROFESSIONAL STAFF WORKFORCE. It is within the discretion of the Board of Education to reduce the educational program, curriculum, and staff whenever economic necessity or enrollment dictates. A staff reduction occurs when the Board eliminates all or part of an existing position held by a staff member to whom continuing contract rights apply. In the event that the Board of Education determines that staff reduction is appropriate, the following guidelines may be considered:
