§18-17-8. Continuing contract status established; dismissal and suspension procedures.

Before entering upon their duties, all teachers shall execute a contract with the state board, which contract shall state the salary to be paid and shall be in the form prescribed by the state superintendent. Every such contract shall be signed by the teacher and by the president and secretary of the state board.

A teacher's contract, under this section, shall be for a term of not less than one nor more than three years; and if, after three years of such employment, the teacher who holds a professional certificate, based on at least a bachelor's degree, has met the qualifications for the same, and the state board enter into a new contract of employment, it shall be a continuing contract.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, the state board may suspend or dismiss any teacher, auxiliary personnel or service personnel, subject to the provisions of this article, for immorality, incompetency, cruelty, insubordination, intemperance or willful neglect of duty. The charges shall be stated in writing and the teacher, auxiliary personnel or service personnel affected shall be given an opportunity to be heard by the state board, sitting as a hearing board, or by an assigned hearing examiner employed by the state board to preside at the taking of evidence upon not less than ten days' written notice. A hearing examiner shall prepare his or her own proposed finding and recommendation, make copies of the findings available to the parties and then submit the entire record to the state board for final decision. The state board shall set a time and place for hearing of arguments by the parties on the record at a regular meeting of the state board or at a special meeting called for that purpose and shall deliberate and issue a decision at the conclusion of arguments. Written notice of the final decision shall be served within five days of the state board's consideration of the matter.