UNQUALIFIED TEACHER. A contract with a teacher who does not hold a certificate that is valid within the county, is void. If the certificate expires during the period for which the contract is given, said contract becomes void, unless the teacher immediately secures a new certificate. The word “immediately” in the foregoing sentence should be construed to mean that the certificate be renewed before the teacher continues with the work of the school.
LEGAL HOLIDAYS. All contracts for teaching must be construed as subject to vacations on legal holidays.[1] No deduction from teachers’ wages on account of such vacation can be made (39 Mich. 484). Holidays should always be counted as days taught. The employment of teacher by the day instead of by the month or year, does not make it the duty of teachers to make up time lost in the observance of holidays.
CLOSING OF SCHOOLS. If a teacher is employed for a definite time and, during the period of his employment, the district officer closes the schools on account of the prevalence of contagious diseases and keeps them closed for a time, the teacher is entitled to full wages during such period (43 Mich. 480; 39 Mich. 484; 62 Mich. 153). In schools closed on account of a loss of the school house by fire or storm, the teacher can collect his wages (75 Mich. 143).
MADE BEFORE ANNUAL MEETING. Contracts made previous to annual meeting are valid. The MADE legislature contemplated that schools should generally open on the beginning of the school year and that teachers would have to be contracted with in season. Neither the newly elected trustees nor the voters at the annual meeting, have the power to impair the obligation of a contract made before such annual meeting (44 Mich. 500; 98 Mich. 43; 88 Mich. 374).
- ↑ Note.—The legal holidays in this state are January 1, February 22, May 30, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas. Whenever a legal holiday falls on Sunday, the next day is observed instead.
