Currently, Hays CISD is considering abandoning its written policy of notifying teachers of the district’s intent to renew or non-renew teachers’ contracts at least 45 days before the last day of instruction. The anti-teacher Senate Bill 8 which passed in the last legislative session gives districts the authority to do this but in no way mandates them to do so. If the policy is changed, it is likely that teachers will receive no more than 10 days notification prior to the last day of instruction regarding proposed renewal or non-renewal. This means teachers would have significantly less time to search for a job in another district and many job openings may already have opened and been filled by the time a teacher learns if they are to be laid off or if their contract is to be renewed or not. Reducing the notification period may give the district more time to make up its mind about a teacher, but gives a non-renewed teacher less time to consider options for their future.

Changing current policy effectively beats up on educators at a time when teachers have had negligible salary improvements, their health insurance premiums increased, and are being asked to do more with less. Furthermore, it is part of the draconian efforts of those politicians who denigrate public service to further erode what few rights public servants enjoy.

Considering that the district has been working efficiently with a 45 day timeline for many years, we, the undersigned, call upon Hays CISD School Board to pursue our strategic goal of being an employee-friendly school district and vote NO on changing our current written policy.