Appeals Court Denies Unemployment Compensation to Unlicensed Teacher
Appeals Court denies unemployment benefits to a teacher who failed to maintain her educator’s license in Borroni v. D.U.A. (No 13-P-442) (Rule 1:28).
Teacher Dismissal Upheld on Appeal
The Massachusetts Appeals Court correctly reinstated an arbitrator’s decision that upheld a teacher dismissal for conduct unbecoming a teacher.
Update: Background Checks for School Employees
Nearly a year after Governor Patrick signed “An Act Relative to Background Checks,” the Massachusetts Office of Public Safety and Security is nearly ready to begin the implementation of the background checks required by that legislation.
Background Checks for School Employees
Effective September 1, 2013, new educators and other school employees in Massachusetts are required to undergo national background checks and fingerprinting; however, the state’s system to conduct these checks is not expected to be in place until late fall.
Bullying Prevention Law Expanded
Governor Deval Patrick has approved an amendment to the state’s Bullying Prevention Law (M.G.L. c. 71, §37O) that extends the original Bullying Prevention Law to include bullying of students by school staff. Originally, the Bullying Law only applied to student-on-student bullying.
Governor Signs Background Check Bill
Massachusetts has joined most other states in requiring educators in public and private schools, and employees in state-licensed child-care programs, to undergo national background checks and fingerprinting.