A. In accordance with the Education Code Section 44922, a unit member may reduce his/her work load prior to retirement from full-time to part-time duties and receive the same credit toward retirement he/she would have received if he/she were employed on a full-time basis. Regulations governing this provision are as follows:

1. Fifteen (15) years of prior full-time service in a position requiring certification in the public school system of California which includes grades K-12, community college, or as a teacher in the California State University and College Systems, the last ten (10) of which shall have been full-time in this District.

2. Attain the age of fifty-five (55) prior to the beginning of the school year or term in which the reduction in teaching services begins. It shall be the employee's responsibility to initiate the request for reduced teaching service.

B. An application for reduced service shall be executed by the employee, in writing, prior to March 1 in the year preceding the period of requested reduced service. Once an agreement on reduced service is made, it can be revoked only with the mutual consent of the employee and the employer. It is understood that at the termination of the unit member's participation in the Part-Time Employment Plan, the employee will begin his/her retirement.

C. The employee shall be paid a salary which is the pro rata share of the salary he/she would be earning had he/she not elected to exercise the option of part-time employment but shall retain all other rights and benefits for which he/she makes the payments that would be required if he/she remained in full-time employment. The employee shall receive health benefits in the same manner as a full-time employee.

D. The minimum part-time employment shall be the equivalent of one-half (1/2) of the number of days of service required by the employee's contract of employment during his/her final year of service in a full-time position.

E. The member and the District australian slot machines shall both contribute to the teacher’s retirement fund the amount that would have been contributed if the member was employed on a full-time basis as per STRS regulations.

F. The reduced workload status must be based on a full school year or term and the minimum compensation paid of time worked must be equal to no less than one-half (1/2) time. All contributions must be paid monthly to STRS.

G. The employee on a half-time assignment will receive sick leave and personal necessity leave on a pro-rated basis.

H. If an employee does not receive approval to continue part-time employment, the individual may either retire or return to a full-time position within the area of their credential.

I. Only one (1) person may participate in this program at a time. When two (2) or more employees apply for the part-time employment option, the administration will designate who will have the opening based on consideration of District need, teacher evaluation(s), and seniority as factors.