RI Gen. Laws §16-13-4 Statement of cause for dismissal Hearing Appeals Arbitration.

RI Gen. Laws §16-13-4
Statement of cause for dismissal Hearing Appeals Arbitration.

(a) The statement of cause for dismissal shall be given the teacher in writing by the governing body of the schools at least one month prior to the close of the school year. The teacher may, within fifteen (15) days of the notification, request in writing a hearing before the full board. The hearing shall be public or private, in the discretion of the teacher. Both teacher and school board shall be entitled to be represented by counsel and to present witnesses. The board shall keep a complete record of the hearing and shall furnish the teacher with a copy. Any teacher aggrieved by the decision of the school board shall have right of appeal to the department of elementary and secondary education and shall have the right of further appeal to the superior court.

(b) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit or at any time to have prohibited a school committee from agreeing, in a collective bargaining agreement, to the arbitration of disputes arising out of the nonrenewal, dismissal, and/or suspension of a teacher pursuant to §§ 16-13-2, 16-13-3, and/or 16-13-5.