For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

(1) CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The chief administrative and executive officer of an entity, institution, agency, or political subdivision of the state that is subject to this chapter and includes, without limitation, superintendents of city or county boards of education and presidents of two-year educational institutions operated under authority and control of the Department of Postsecondary Education. The term includes persons serving in such a capacity on an acting or interim basis under lawful appointment or by operation of law.

(2) CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE. All adult bus drivers, all full-time lunchroom or cafeteria workers, janitors, custodians, maintenance personnel, secretaries and clerical assistants, instructional aides or assistants, whether or not certificated, non-certificated supervisors, and, except as hereinafter provided, all other persons who are not teachers as defined herein who are full-time employees of a city or county board of education, two-year educational institutions operated under the authority and control of the Department of Postsecondary Education, the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, including production workers at the Alabama Industries for the Blind, and educational and correctional institutions under the control of the Department of Youth Services. The term does not include the employer's chief executive officer, vice president, or chief school financial officer. Full-time employees include adult bus drivers and other employees whose duties require 20 or more hours in each normal working week of the school term, excluding holidays that are recognized by the employer. Employees who are eligible for coverage under the state Merit System are not covered by this chapter. A probationary classified employee is a classified employee who has not attained nonprobationary status.

(3) EMPLOYEE. Unless otherwise specified, and as appropriate to the context, the term includes either a teacher or a classified employee, or both, whose employment is subject to this chapter.

(4) EMPLOYER. The entity, institution, agency, or political subdivision of the state by which an employee who is subject to this chapter is employed. Employers subject to this chapter include all city and county boards of education, all educational and correctional institutions under the control of the Department of Youth Services, the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, and two-year educational institutions operated under the authority and control of the Department of Postsecondary Education. Each two-year institution operated under the authority and control of the Department of Postsecondary Education is a separate employer for purposes of this chapter.

(5) GOVERNING BOARD. The body of elected or appointed officials that is granted authority by law, regulation, or policy to make employment decisions on behalf of the employer. If final decision-making authority with respect to employment decisions is conferred by law, regulation, or duly adopted policy on an official, administrator, or organizational unit other than a separate governing board, the decision or action of such official, administrator, or organizational unit, including the president of a two-year educational institution operated under the authority and control of the Department of Postsecondary Education, is that of the governing board for purposes of this chapter, and no additional approval of such decision or action shall be required. Under such circumstances, the official, administrator, president, or organizational unit shall assume and exercise the duties of the governing board established by this chapter. For purposes of this chapter, the State Board of Education shall not be deemed to be or authorized to function as the employer or the governing board of any employer covered by this chapter.

(6) PROFESSIONAL EDUCATOR'S CERTIFICATE. A certificate or license, by whatever name, designation, or subclassification known or identified, issued by the State Department of Education, or recognized under an approved interstate reciprocity program, and that must be maintained by the employee in order to be employed as a teacher in the county and city schools of this state. A professional educator's certificate does not include provisional, alternative, or emergency certificates, or certificates or licenses that are issued to instructional aides or assistants, to substitute teachers, or to business, technical, operational, or other employees whose job duties do not require or entail the instruction of students or the regular supervision of or interaction with employees with such job duties.

(7) SCHOOL YEAR. The period beginning with the first day of the annual school term and ending with the last day of the annual school term on which classroom instructors are required to report for duty, as established by the governing board. For a two-year educational institution, the school year shall be deemed to begin on the first day of the fall academic semester and continuing through the final day of the spring academic semester, but shall not include the summer academic semester.

(8) TEACHER. All employees of entities that are covered by this chapter who are required by law, regulation, or employer policy to maintain a professional educator's certificate issued by the State Department of Education and who are employed by a city or county board of education, the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, or educational and correctional institutions under the control of the Department of Youth Services. The term also includes instructors employed by two-year educational institutions operated under the authority and control of the Department of Postsecondary Education and principals who had attained tenure under prior law, but who have not elected to become contract principals under subsection (h) of Section 16-24B-3. The term does not include an employer's chief executive officer, chief school financial officer, or a principal who is employed as or who has elected to become a contract principal under subsection (h) of Section 16-24B-3, whether or not certification is required for those positions by law or policy, and does not include the president or vice president of a two-year educational institution operated under the authority and control of the Department of Postsecondary Education. A probationary teacher is a teacher who has not attained tenure.