Section 15.1-15-04 - Contracts - Renewals - Notice1.a. If the board of a school district elects not to renew the contract of a teacher, a principal, or an assistant or associate superintendent for the ensuing school year, the board shall provide written notification of the decision to the individual.b. The board may not notify the individual under this section earlier than March first nor later than May first of the school year in which the individual has been employed.c. The failure of a board to provide written notice under this subsection constitutes an offer to renew the individual's contract for the ensuing school year, under the same terms and conditions as the individual's current contract.2.a. No earlier than March first nor later than May first, the board of a school district shall provide to each individual offered a contract renewal notification of the date by which the individual must accept or reject the contract.b. At least fourteen calendar days must pass between the notification required by this subsection, and the date by which the individual must accept or reject the contract.3.a. In order to accept an offer to renew a contract, including an offer generated by the failure of a board to provide written notice as required by subsection 1, an individual shall provide written notification of acceptance to the board on or before the date required by the board or May fifteenth, whichever is earlier. An individual accepting an offer to renew a contract is entitled to a written contract for the ensuing school year.b. In order to reject an offer to renew a contract, including an offer generated by the failure of a board to provide written notice as required by subsection 1, an individual shall provide written notification of rejection to the board on or before the date required by the board or May fifteenth, whichever is earlier.c. If an individual fails to provide notification of acceptance or rejection of an offer to renew a contract, the board is relieved of any continuing contract provisions.4.a. If negotiations are being carried on pursuant to chapter 15.1-16, the provisions of this section requiring the board of a school district to give an individual notice and requiring that the individual respond to the notice are suspended until the negotiations are completed.b. If negotiations do not begin as required by subsection 5 of section 15.1-16-13, the board of a school district may provide notification to each individual offered a contract renewal.Amended by S.L. 2015 , ch. 147( HB 1251 ), § 1, eff. 8/1/2015.