Sec. 1229.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (4), the board of a school district, other than a school district that was organized as a primary school district during the 1995-1996 school year, or of an intermediate school district shall employ a superintendent of schools, who shall meet the requirements of section 1246. The superintendent shall not be a member of the board. Employment of a superintendent shall be by written contract. The term of the superintendent's contract shall be fixed by the board, not to exceed 5 years. If written notice of nonrenewal of the contract of a superintendent is not given at least 90 days before the termination of the contract, the contract is renewed for an additional 1-year period. However, for the superintendent of a community district, the minimum time period for the written notice required under this subsection is 30 days.

(2) The board of a school district or intermediate school district may employ assistant superintendents, principals, assistant principals, guidance directors, and other administrators who do not assume tenure in that position under 1937 (Ex Sess) PA 4, MCL 38.71 to 38.191. The employment shall be by written contract. The term of the employment contract shall be fixed by the board, not to exceed 3 years. The board shall prescribe the duties of an individual described in this subsection. If written notice of nonrenewal of the contract of an individual described in this subsection is not given at least 60 days before the termination date of the contract, the contract is renewed for an additional 1-year period. However, for an individual described in this subsection who is employed by a community district, the minimum time period for the written notice required under this subsection is 30 days.

(3) A notification of nonrenewal of contract of an individual described in subsection (2) may be given only for a reason that is not arbitrary or capricious. The board shall not issue a notice of nonrenewal under this section unless the affected individual has been provided with not less than 30 days' advance notice that the board is considering the nonrenewal together with a written statement of the reasons the board is considering the nonrenewal. However, for an individual described in subsection (2) who is employed by a community district, the minimum time period for the advance notice required under this subsection is 7 days. After the issuance of the written statement, but before the nonrenewal statement is issued, the affected individual shall be given the opportunity to meet with not less than a majority of the board to discuss the reasons stated in the written statement. The meeting shall be open to the public or a closed session, as the affected individual elects under section 8 of the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.268. If the board fails to provide for a meeting with the board, or if a court finds that the reason for nonrenewal is arbitrary or capricious, the affected individual's contract is renewed for an additional 1-year period. This subsection does not apply to the nonrenewal of the contract of a superintendent of schools described in subsection (1).

(4) A school district, instead of directly employing a superintendent of schools, may contract with its intermediate school district for the intermediate superintendent to serve as the superintendent of schools for the school district or for the intermediate school district to provide another person to serve as superintendent of schools for the school district or may contract with another person, including, but not limited to, the superintendent of another school district, to serve as superintendent of schools for the school district. If a school district does not operate a public school directly on its own, the school district is not required to employ a superintendent.

History: Add. 1995, Act 289, Eff. Mar. 28, 1996 ;-- Am. 2011, Act 105, Imd. Eff. July 19, 2011 ;-- Am. 2016, Act 192, Imd. Eff. June 21, 2016 Popular Name: Act 451