The Madison Metropolitan School District is seeking qualified applicants to serve in the capacity of Independent Hearing Officers for Expulsions. Successful applicants will be appointed to the list of eligible Hearing Officers for the 2008-09 school year. The Madison Metropolitan School District actively seeks and encourages minorities and women to apply.

Required Qualifications:

1. Law degree with two (2) years experience involving the conduct of formal evidentiary hearings or four (4) years experience acting as an advocate in formal evidentiary hearings.
   
2. Ability to communicate effectively in oral and written form.
   
3. Ability to render decisions in a timely fashion.
   
4. Ability to deal impartially with persons representing multiple and differing points of view.
   
5. Experience working in a multi-cultural environment and/or a commitment to work toward improving one's own cultural competence (i.e., valuing differences/diversity, recognizing personal limitations in one's skills, background and experiences, and having the desire to learn in these areas.
   

Desired Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Experience:

1. Demonstrated ability to conduct quasi-judicial hearings, including but not limited to attending to evidentiary and due process issues.
   
2. Prior experience as a Hearing Officer or advocate in public school student expulsion cases.
   
3. Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply relevant law (e.g., statutes, cases, constitutional law) and School Board policies in a student disciplinary setting.
   

Contract Rate for the 2008-2009 school year is $115/hour. Hearing Officers serve as independent contractors and do not qualify for District employee benefits. Hearing Officers will be offered expulsion cases on a rotating basis or by lot from the eligibility list.

Please send a complete resume and a written reference letter and/or complete contact information for three (3) relevant references to:

Deadline for receipt of resumes is Wednesday, August 27, 2008. Interviews may begin prior to the application deadline, but final selection will not occur prior to the application deadline.

Initial interview of the most qualified applicants will be conducted by an interview committee and applicants will be subject to a background check and reference check prior to any appointment. The interview committee will select the applicant(s) to be recommended to Board of Education for appointment. Successful candidates will be notified of their placement on an eligibility list. At this time, it is expected that three or fewer additional appointments to the eligibility list for 2008-2009 will be made. Appointments as an Independent Hearing Officer are made pursuant to Wisconsin Statute §120.13(1).