Review Section C: Staff Selection on p. 274 of The Principal’s Quick-Reference Guide to School Law: Reducing Liability, Litigation, and Other Potential Legal Tangles.
According to Hachiya (2022), discrimination in the selection and hiring process is “a dangerous error for any school district, and when done intentionally it is illegal, as well as ethically and morally unacceptable.” To effectively mitigate liability, school and district leaders must be aware of their vulnerability to litigation during various pre-employment stages.
Consider the following scenario:
Dr. Brown is wrapping up the first year as principal at Phoenix High School. It is the spring hiring season, and Dr. Brown wants to create a hiring process that is smooth, effective, and meets federal and state guidelines. When speaking with the superintendent, Dr. Brown was given permission to explore best practices for hiring staff members to create the ideal hiring process.
Evaluate the scenario. What questions should guide Dr. Brown’s thinking and understanding for hiring staff members? What are the seven major steps or outlines Hachiya (2022) draws from the research of Milner and Miner (1978) and Panaro (1990) that should guide all education leaders when hiring staff members? Which of these steps do you believe poses the greatest risk of litigation for Dr. Brown?
