Please take notice of the following acts passed by the 1999 General Assembly. It would be wise to refer these acts to your district’s attorney for interpretation and implementation.
Employees:
Act 852 – To Amend Various Provisions of the Teacher Fair Dismissal Act
- Where specified, “days” will be calendar days.
- How teachers are to deliver their notices to the school district.
- Who may receive the teacher’s notice.
- In the notice of nonrenewal, specific, numbered paragraphs are to be used.
Act 1581 – To Amend Section of Teacher Fair Dismissal Act Pertaining to Nonrenewal Hearings
- Describes how to accommodate the nonrenewal of teachers who are represented by a professional organization for the purposes of negotiation with the school district.
Act 1314 – An Act to Amend the Time Period in Which Noncertified Public School Employees May Request and Receive a Hearing to Appeal Suspension, Termination or Nonrenewal Decisions
- Employees are entitled to such a hearing within 25 calendar days from their receipt of notice.
- The hearing shall take place between 5-10 days after the request is received by the superintendent, unless the employee and the board agree, in writing, to a different hearing date.
Act 1498 – An Act to Amend Arkansas Code 6-17-208 Pertaining to the Grievance Procedures of School Districts
- Grievance procedures will include a hearing at the next regularly scheduled school board meeting, unless the parties agree to a different date.
- Employees may appeal a determination that their concern is not a grievance.
Act 1523 – An Act to Create the “Arkansas Whistle-Blower Act”-? Employees in school districts and state agencies are listed under the definition of the protected class of public employees.
Act 1589 – An Act to Amend Arkansas Code 25-19-106 (Open Public Meetings)
- Act applies to the executive sessions held by local school boards, as well as the State Board of Education.
Act 984 – An Act to Amend Arkansas Code 21-9-301 to Include Boards, Commissions, and other Entities of Local Government in the Immunity from Tort Liability
School Boards (Other acts that will specifically affect local school boards):
Act 1172 – An Act to Amend Arkansas Code 21-8-701 Listing the Persons Who Must File Financial Disclosure Statements
- All persons who are elected members of a school board or who are candidates for a position on the school board must file this form.
Act 898 – An Act to Require School Board Members to Reside in the School District From Which They Are Elected While Serving on the School Board
Act 1390 – An Act to Repeal Arkansas Code 6-13-616(c) Relating to Qualifications of School Board Members
- Repeals the provision allowing a person with residential property in portions of two (2) school districts to be eligible to be a member of either school board.
Miscellaneous:
Act 1284 – An Act to Require Solicitors for Advertisements on School Calendars to make Certain Disclosures
- The solicitor must clearly disclose whether or not the school will receive any funds as a result of the solicitation.
- Violations of this act will be a violation of the Arkansas Code pertaining to deceptive trade practices.
Act 1482 – An Act Concerning Immunity for Year 2000 Computer Errors-? School districts and their employees are listed in the act, as well as state agencies and their employees.
Act 1579 – An Act to Create Community Truancy Boards
- Local school district boards of directors may create a community truancy board.
- Lists provisions.