[Mpls] Steve Belton v. Thandiwe Peebles

[Michael Hohmann]

Re 'at will' vs. 'contracted' employees at MPS, Michael Atherton states, in
part:
> There's nothing that would prohibit giving "at will" employees
> more secure contracts sometime in the future.  Indeed, it's
> easier to go from "fire at will" to tenure, than from tenure to
> "fire at will."
>

[MH] I was under the impression that the employees in question were
policy/administrative/mgmt -type positions.  If that is the case I see no
need for tenure at all.  Contracts are one thing, tenure is another (a
contract+ if you will).  Most public service-type employers seem to make the
top administration people (i.e. those reporting directly to the chief exec.
officer) 'at will' employees that serve at the pleasure of the top/chief
exec. officer.  Why should the MPS be any different?  The chief executive,
the superintendent in this case, should have a high degree of control over
the direct reports that will be helping develop/implement major policy
initiatives... seems to me anyway.  Do policy/administrative/mgmt -type
positions normally hold tenure in the public schools?

Mike Hohmann
Linden Hills