Board rejects proposed change to GCQC policy on liquidated damages for resignations
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Summary
After a lengthy, divided discussion, the board voted down proposed amendments to Policy GCQC that would have added exceptions to liquidated damages for certain staff who advance to higher-paying positions.
The Peoria Unified Governing Board considered and rejected proposed changes to Policy GCQC, which governs resignation of professional staff and includes liquidated damages language.
Administration brought the policy back for a second reading with two highlighted changes: an exception to liquidated damages when a staff member advances to a position of higher pay or responsibility, and a clarification that waivers could be contingent on availability of a qualified replacement. The administration recommended approval of the revised wording.
Board members expressed divided views. Some said they did not want to restrict staff members'professional mobility; others said waiving liquidated damages in uneven circumstances would be unfair to staff who could not secure a replacement. Several board members emphasized the policy's role in protecting students from mid-year staffing disruptions and noted the district's practice of asking certified staff to sign contracts earlier in the cycle.
After discussion, a motion to approve the proposed changes failed. The board voted to leave the existing GCQC policy in place.