Question

You are the CHRO of the Urbania School District. The School Board has decided to change the hours of school in Urbania High School. The High School used to have its first class at 7:30 a.m. In light of some research that shows that teenagers need additional sleep, the school day will now begin at 9:00 a.m. Instead of ending at 3:00 p.m., the school day will be over at 4:30 p.m.

The Principal of the High School is incensed. She does not trust the research. She also believes that student achievement on standardized tests and SATs show that Urbania High is a top-performing school with no need to change its ways.

The Principal decides that she will speak during the public comment section of the next School Board meeting. At the meeting, she excoriates the Board for their decision.

The Board immediately goes into private session to discuss a personnel issue. When they finish, they announce to the public at the meeting that the High School Principal has been fired and that the Assistant Principal has been made Acting Principal.

The following week, you receive a complaint in Federal court stating that the High School Principal was fired for asserting her First Amendment (freedom of speech) rights.

How do you advise the Board of Education?

Answer 1

Following are few of the advises that I will be giving the Board of Education:

• That no personnel in whatsoever capacity shall have the authority to fire other personnel because they disagree with their views because it really promotes the culture of dictatorship. Freedom of speech is the basic right that has been guaranteed by our constitution and the same should be respected by each personnel.
• Board of education should come up with the show-cause notice to any person who is found outrageously against the school policies and against one who is seen to have tendencies to promote the strong centrist ideology and the same should not be done without having proper consultations with outside board members.
• If Board is found guilty, which we see that the complaint in the Federal Court has established, it should make consultative and broad discussions with the legal team and if needed make Principal onboard expressing our deep sense of apology.
• The Board should prove the validity of the research and come up with a report on how that research is valid in context to our school.
• The Board is advised to come up with a report on the need to change the shifts despite our school being a top-performing one.
• The participative style of management should be practiced and it is advised not to pass motions in dark board rooms.

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