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Teacher who received nonrenewal letter testified as committee weighs bill to require districts to disclose reductions in force
Summary
House Bill 602 would require school districts to inform boards when reductions in force occur so affected teachers know the reason for nonrenewal; proponents described a teacher who resigned after receiving a nonrenewal letter and later learned it was a RIF. The Montana School Boards Association opposed the bill, saying existing law already provides processes and the proposal could reintroduce litigation risk.
Helena — Representative Overstreet sponsored House Bill 602, which the sponsor said would require school districts to inform their boards of reductions in force (RIFs) so teachers are not led to believe they were dismissed for performance reasons.
Ann Marie Gurney testified as a proponent and described receiving a preprinted nonrenewal notice saying the district would recommend nonrenewal without cause; she said later, after questions from staff colleagues, an administrator admitted the decision was a cost‑driven reduction in force. Gurney said she resigned to avoid a public record of termination that could damage future employment prospects.
Lance Melton of the Montana School Boards Association opposed the bill, arguing it largely duplicates existing statutory rights and procedures for public input and could reintroduce litigation and administrative costs the state addressed in past statutory revisions. Melton said current law already gives boards exclusive authority to determine staffing and provides notification and appeal pathways. He urged the committee to table the bill.
Supporters, including the sponsor, said the bill's narrow purpose is to ensure transparency: "All this bill requires is telling the truth," the sponsor said in closing, adding the bill would not change nonrenewal law or require disclosure of reasons for termination beyond identifying a RIF.
Next steps: The hearing concluded with robust questioning and contrasting views on whether the statute would change practice or simply add clarity and transparency; the transcript excerpt does not show a committee vote on HB 602.
