The Associated Press reported in July that by 2018, all teachers will work under one-, two- or four-year contracts that replace tenure rights requiring school administrators to follow a defined process when firing a teacher.

Critics of tenure in the Republican-led General Assembly approved the change because they said rules make it difficult to get rid of ineffective teachers once they qualify for the protections after four years of teaching, the Associated Press reported.

“This infuriates me,” board member Linda Brewer said, saying she believes the school system has more than 25 percent of its teachers deserving contracts.

The school system, Sawyer said, must figure something out by the end of the academic year. He said the school system is looking for clarification on the legislation from Tharrington Smith, its legal representatives.

Board member Mike Williams said it is important to look at this legislation as a positive rather than a negative. “It's really important how it's handled. That's why I think we need to get in front of it so it can be a positive.”

Board member Jane Deese, however, was less than complimentary of the legislation. “In all the years I've looked at what the legislature has done, I think it's the biggest slap in the face of teachers.”

Board member Mike Salanik said, however, it is an issue that must be addressed. “You need to stay on top of this. The board has to decide to go with 25 percent. It's a hot button issue we need to pay attention to. We need to contemplate how it's to be done.”

Sawyer said he will keep the board informed. “It's going to take all of us to determine what's best for the teachers in Roanoke Rapids schools. It's not saying the top 25 percent. It's saying 25 percent of our teaching force. There are more than 25 percent of our teaching force that are high-performing teachers.”