Attorney: Richland district illegally fired school superintendent
RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) - Former Richland School Superintendent Jim Busey is seeking his job back, saying he was illegally fired because he wasn't given a hearing as required by state law.
The Tri-City Herald reports that Busey's attorney Brian Iller sent a letter to the school district this week saying Busey was entitled to a hearing before he was fired in mid-January. The letter demands Busey be allowed to return to work and collect his salary.
Richland School Board Chairman Rick Jansons said Friday he had not seen the letter. He said Busey's termination stands and the board is searching for his replacement.
Busey was dismissed for violating the morals clause of his contract by having an affair with a district employee at an elementary school and other allegations.
The Tri-City Herald reports that Busey's attorney Brian Iller sent a letter to the school district this week saying Busey was entitled to a hearing before he was fired in mid-January. The letter demands Busey be allowed to return to work and collect his salary.
Richland School Board Chairman Rick Jansons said Friday he had not seen the letter. He said Busey's termination stands and the board is searching for his replacement.
Busey was dismissed for violating the morals clause of his contract by having an affair with a district employee at an elementary school and other allegations.
Violating the morals clause of his contract, seems like a no brainer...
If the Board neglected to dot an "i", or cross a "t", how tragic, Â because now, a narcissistic administrator and some lawyers will show their true colors. Â "it's all for the kids", yah, right!
You can't fire public school employees. They should know that. Give him back his 160,000 a year salary and who cares about education...
@lakeview: That is just plain not true. You seem to have a problem with what is called progressive discipline. It is actually a very sound process embraced by most human resources departments. Of course there are some acts so egregious that they call for immediate termination and those are usually spelled out. i.e. molesting a student, etc.
The superintendent is employed at the School Board's will. They want to fire him they should be able to without state law interfering.
@Iconoclast This is why I have nothing to do with public education (besides being forced to fund it).Â
@Iconoclast Yeah, public school employees do not have "at will" contracts.Â
@lakeview: The school district superintendant is a special class of employee and they serve at the will of the board and is in fact the board's secretary. Each district has a unique contract with their superintendant. I am not familiar with the state law that requires a hearing prior to a termination. That law should be incorporated into the contract but in any case it cannot be superceded. This is one of those cases that the courts and/or off record negotiations will resolve it.
@Iconoclast If they are circumventing state law by not granting him a hearing then Busey is within his rights to sue them. School board is not above the state law.