Causes for Disciplinary Action
A permanent classified employee may be subject to suspension, demotion, involuntary reassignment, or dismissal for one or more of the following causes:
1. Immoral conduct, including, but not limited to, egregious misconduct that is the basis for a sex offense as defined in Education Code 44010, a controlled substance offense as defined in Education Code 44011, or child abuse and neglect as described in Penal Code 11165.2-11165.6
(cf. 4112.5/4212.5/4312.5 - Criminal Record Check)
(cf. 4119.24/4219.24/4319.24 - Maintaining Appropriate Adult-Student Interactions)
(cf. 5141.4 - Child Abuse Prevention and Reporting)
2. Conduct that constitutes a violent or serious felony as defined in Penal Code 667.5(c) or 1192.7(c)
3. Unlawful discrimination, including harassment, against any student or other employee
(cf. 4119.11/4219.11/4319.11 - Sexual Harassment)
(cf. 5145.3 - Nondiscrimination/Harassment)
(cf. 5145.7 - Sexual Harassment)
4. Violation of or refusal to obey state or federal law or regulation, Board policy, or district or school procedure
5. Falsification of any information supplied to the district, including, but not limited to, information supplied on application forms, employment records, or any other school district records
6. Unsatisfactory performance
7. Unprofessional conduct
8. Dishonesty
9. Neglect of duty or absence without leave
10. Insubordination
11. Use of alcohol or a controlled substance while on duty or in such close time proximity thereto as to affect the employee's performance
(cf. 4020 - Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace)
(cf. 4112.41/4212.41/4312.41 - Employee Drug Testing)
(cf. 4112.42/4212.42/4312.42 - Drug and Alcohol Testing for School Bus Drivers)
(cf. 4159/4259/4359 - Employee Assistance Program)
12. Destruction or misuse of district property
(cf. 4040 - Employee Use of Technology)
13. Failure to fulfill any ongoing condition of employment including, but not limited to, maintenance of any license, certificate, or other similar requirement specified in the employee's class specification or otherwise necessary for the employee to perform the duties of the position
(cf. 4112.4/4212.4/4312.4 - Health Examinations)
(cf. 4212 - Appointment and Conditions of Employment)
14. A physical or mental condition which precludes the employee from the proper performance of duties and responsibilities as determined by competent medical authority, except as otherwise provided by a contract or by law
(cf. 4030 - Nondiscrimination in Employment)
(cf. 4032 - Reasonable Accommodation)
15. Retaliation against any person who, in good faith, reports, discloses, divulges, or otherwise brings to the attention of any appropriate authority any information relative to an actual or suspected violation of state or federal law occurring on or directly related to the job
(cf. 4119.1/4219.1/4319.1 - Civil and Legal Rights)
16. Violation of Education Code 45303 or Government Code 1028 (advocacy of communism)
17. Any other misconduct which is of such nature that it causes discredit or injury to the district or the employee's position
An employee shall not be suspended, disciplined, reassigned, transferred, dismissed, or otherwise retaliated against solely for acting to protect a student, or for refusing to infringe on a student's protected conduct, when that student is exercising free speech or press rights pursuant to Education Code 48907 or 48950. (Education Code 48907, 48950)
(cf. 5145.2 - Freedom of Speech/Expression)
No disciplinary action shall be taken for any cause which arose before the employee became permanent, nor for any cause which arose more than two years before the date of the filing of the notice of cause unless this cause was concealed or not disclosed by the employee when it could be reasonably assumed that the employee would have disclosed the facts to the district. (Education Code 45113)
(cf. 4216 - Probationary/Permanent Status)
Initiation and Notification of Charges
The Superintendent or designee shall provide notice to the employee of a recommendation for discipline, which includes the charges and materials upon which the recommendation is based. The notification shall identify an impartial district official ("Skelly officer") with whom the employee may meet at a specified time and place or to whom the employee may provide a written response to the recommendation of discipline. After meeting with the employee or considering any response from the employee, the Skelly officer shall recommend to the Superintendent or designee whether to proceed with the recommendation for discipline.
The Superintendent or designee shall file any final recommendation for a disciplinary action in writing with the Board of Trustees. A copy of the recommendation shall be served upon the employee either personally or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, at the employee's last known address.
The notice shall, in ordinary and concise language, inform the employee of the specific charge(s) or cause(s) for the disciplinary action, the specific acts and omissions upon which the action is based, and, if applicable, the district rule or regulation that the employee has allegedly violated. In addition, the notice shall include the employee's right to a hearing on those charges, the time within which the hearing may be requested which shall be not less than five days after service of the notice to the employee, and a card or paper which the employee may sign and file to deny the charges and request a hearing. (Education Code 45113, 45116)
(cf. 4112.9/4212.9/4312.9 - Employee Notifications)
Request for Board Hearing
Within the time specified in the notice of the recommendation of disciplinary action, the employee may request a hearing on the charges by signing and filing the card or paper included with the notice. (Education Code 45113)
Any other written document signed and appropriately filed within the specified time limit by the employee shall constitute a sufficient notice of the request for a hearing. The request shall be delivered to the office of the Superintendent or designee during normal work hours of that office. If mailed to the office of the Superintendent or designee, it must be received or postmarked no later than the time limit specified by the district. In cases where an order of suspension without pay has been issued in conjunction with a recommendation of dismissal, any request for a hearing on the dismissal shall also constitute a request to hear the suspension order, and the necessity of the suspension order shall be an issue in the hearing.
Employment Status Pending a Hearing
A classified employee against whom a recommendation of disciplinary action has been issued shall remain on active duty status pending any hearing on the charges, unless the Superintendent or designee determines that the employee's continuance in active duty would present an unreasonable risk of harm to students, staff, or property. The Superintendent or designee may, in writing, order the employee immediately suspended from duty without pay and shall state the reasons that the suspension is deemed necessary. The suspension order shall be served upon the employee either personally or by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, immediately after issuance.
Compulsory Leave of Absence
Upon being informed by law enforcement that a classified employee has been charged with a "mandatory leave of absence offense," the Superintendent or designee shall immediately place the employee on a leave of absence. A mandatory leave of absence offense includes:
1. Any sex offense as defined in Education Code 44010
2. Violation or attempted violation of Penal Code 187 (murder or attempted murder)
3. Any offense involving the unlawful sale, use, or exchange to minors of controlled substances as listed in Health and Safety Code 11054, 11055, and 11056
The Superintendent or designee may place on an immediate compulsory leave of absence a classified employee who is charged with an "optional leave of absence offense," defined as a controlled substance offense specified in Education Code 44011 and Health and Safety Code 11357-11361, 11363, 11364, and 11370.1 except as it relates to marijuana, mescaline, peyote, or tetrahydrocannabinols.
An employee's compulsory leave for a mandatory or optional leave of absence offense may extend for not more than 10 days after the entry of judgment in the criminal proceedings. However, the compulsory leave may be extended if the Board gives notice, within 10 days after the entry of judgment in the proceedings, that the employee will be dismissed within 30 days from the date of service of the notice unless the employee demands a hearing on the dismissal.
Regulation SOUTHERN TRINITY JOINT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
approved: November 19, 2019 Mad River, California