Schools

Grosse Pointe School Board Unanimously Votes to Dismiss Teacher

The teacher, who is represented by an attorney, will appeal the board's decision to the Michigan Department of Education Tenure Commission.

A social studies teacher has been suspended with pay pending the outcome of a hearing before the Michigan Tenure Commission in his attempt to fight the Grosse Pointe Public School Board's unanimous decision to terminate him through tenure charges. 

Ernest Kalina, who also lives in the Grosse Pointes, has been with the district for 27 years. He first taught at and later moved to Pierce Middle School, according to records requested from the school district. 

His suspension followed an incident in his classroom in which he is accused of throwing a shoe at a student, Grosse Pointe Education Association President Ranae Beyerlein said. Additional details about the circumstances of the shoe throwing are not known.

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Kalina's suspension began before the end of the school year. He had a private tenure hearing before the in late April. The hearing was closed at his request, which is allowed under the Tenure Act.

The board did not vote in public about their decision but their resolution shows they voted unanimously.

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Kalina's suspension follows an already-pending grievance he filed against the use of a consultant, who was hired to observe his classroom twice a week, to be part of his evaluation, Beyerlein said.

The district hired a consultant during the school year to observe Kalina at the request of Pierce Principal Gary Buslepp. The consultant was paid $500 per day plus transportation costs, Beyerlein said.

Due to a shortage of administrative law judges statewide, the arbitration for Kalina's grievance is not expected to be heard until late summer or fall, Beyerlein said. 

Attempts to reach Kalina were not successful. The parent of the child at whom the shoe was directed declined comment. 

According to records obtained by Patch from the district, Kalina received positive evaluations in the beginning of his career while at Richard. The evaluations began declining after he moved to Pierce and most include rebuttal letters written by him and filed in his personnel record at his request.

His personnel file is also heavily loaded with emails from parents and fellow teachers regarding their appreciation for his flexibility, accommodation as well as information about how students have enjoyed his class.

In 2009, Kalina was suspended for one day stemming from hostile and negative behavior in the classroom and for spending too much time on the computer during instructional time, according to a letter addressed to Kalina advising him of the suspension. The same letter references a reprimand issued to him in 2003 for being insensitive to certain students and spending too much time on the computer.

During his years at Richard, Kalina also served as a Safety Patrol Sponsor for which he received positive reviews. 

Under the current Tenure Law, Kalina is entitled to defend himself against the tenure charges filed by the district seeking his dismissal, Beyerlein said. He is represented by an attorney and will address the charges that focus concern on his "performance as a professional," Beyerlein said. The charges are not of a criminal nature but the process is similar, Beyerlein said, referencing the right to due process. 

Before Kalina began teaching in Grosse Pointe, he worked for two years in Los Angeles, CA. He earned his teaching degree from Wayne State University and is a Grosse Pointe North alum.


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