CACHE—The Cache Board of Education has taken the first steps toward dismissing two teachers.
During a special meeting April 23, the board voted unanimously to receive letters from Cache Superintendent Chad Hance, who recommended that the district dismiss agriculture teacher Kelly Jenkins and language arts teacher Walter Kerrick.
The board also scheduled due-process hearings for both staffers. Jenkins’ hearing was set for noon May 20 and Kerrick’s was scheduled for noon June 12.
Locations for the hearings have not been chosen yet as district officials want to make sure they have ample room for people who plan to attend, Hance said.
“The locations of the meetings, along with the meeting agendas, will be posted on the front doors of the Primary Elementary, as well as on our website, cacheps. org,” he said in an email to a Southwest Ledger reporter. “Notice will also be provided to the employees involved, as well as others who routinely receive our board agenda.”
Hance said he could not discuss individual personnel matters at this time. He added that school officials are working to ensure that state and federal laws, as well as the district’s employment contracts and policies, are followed to protect the employees’ due-process rights.
Jenkins has taught in Cache for 12 years, while Kerrick has been with the district for two years.
An attempt to reach Jenkins for comment via text message was unsuccessful. Kerrick was not listed on the district’s website.
Due process for teachers In most cases, Oklahoma law gives school employees the right to a written notice of a recommendation that they be dismissed, demoted or not rehired, Hance said. School employees are also entitled to a due-process hearing with the board of education before their dismissal, demotion or non-re-employment.
“The notice letter sent to an employee, which outlines the causes and underlying facts of the district’s recommendation, is a confidential document until the hearing occurs,” Hance said. “During the hearing, both parties may present evidence and witnesses.”
He said the hearing must be conducted at a meeting of the school board and is open to the public