In every legal dispute over a personnel decision one of the critical issues is the true motivation behind the decision. Why did the principal recommend nonrenewal of the teacher’s contract?  Why did the superintendent reassign the coach?  What was the HR director thinking when hearing the custodian’s grievance?   Why did the special education director reprimand the diagnostician? 

The written record often answers these questions. That’s why the record that you keep, both formally and informally, is so important.  You don’t want to be the person who wrote the memo to the teacher that said “We expected better behavior out of a woman of your years, especially after the health scare you had last year.”  That’s a trifecta of bad documentation, opening the door to a suit based on sex, age, and disability.

Next Tuesday, October 20, our firm offers an on-demand webinar: DOCUMENTATION MAKES THE DIFFERENCE, presented by attorneys Haley Turner and Joey Moore.  Haley and Joey bring a wealth of experience to this topic, which will make the presentation relevant and practical.  Go to www.walshgallegos.com to sign up!

DAWG BONE: THE WRITTEN RECORD YOU LEAVE WILL REVEAL THE REASON FOR THE DECISION.

Tomorrow: one for the 504 Coordinators