You’ve Got Termination E-Mail.

A probationary school nurse was notified of her termination by e-mail. Pursuant to Education Code section 44929.21, subdivision (b), the governing board of a school district must notify a probationary teacher on or before March 15 of the teacher’s second complete consecutive school year of employment of the decision to reelect or not reelect the teacher for the next succeeding year. If the termination notice is not given, the teacher is deemed reelected for the next school year and must be classified as a permanent employee of the district at the commencement of the year. After being unsuccessful within the school district process, the nurse filed a petition for extraordinary relief. The trial court found a termination e-mail notice from the district’s head of human resources was sufficient notice and denied the writ of mandate. In affirming, the appellate court noted: “The purpose of the statute is to provide the probationary employee with ample notice to allow the employee an opportunity to find another job and plan for the future.” Grace v. Beaumont Unified School District  (Cal. App. Fourth Dist., Div. 2; June 4, 2013) 216 Cal.App.4th 1325.