The Linn-Mar Board of Education may offer an early separation plan for licensed personnel serving in an assignment of .5 or greater time equivalency. Five-tenths to full-time personnel (.5 to 1.0 FTE) are those who are currently performing their assigned duties within the school district and who satisfy the definition of five-tenths to full-time personnel (.5 to 1.0 FTE) as outlined in the respective contracts and terms and conditions of employment.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
- All licensed personnel
- Five-tenths to full-time (.5 to 1.0 FTE)
- At least 55 years of age
- Completed a total of 20 years of service in position requiring licensure; 10 of which were for the Linn-Mar Community School District
Said personnel will qualify for incentives upon submitting to the school board written notification of intent for early separation no later than the date set by the board and, upon receiving information regarding the incentives related to early separation, submit an early separation request no later than the date set by the board of the last year of service. Packages are awarded based on overall seniority.
The effective date for an early separation corresponds to the ending date of the licensed employee’s contract year and they must work the entire contract year prior to early separation.
COMPENSATION
Licensed personnel who elect to take early separation will be compensated when at least 20 years of service are satisfied after at least the age of 55 based on the recommendation of the administration and board approval.
INSURANCE
- Licensed personnel who elect to take early separation pursuant to this policy are eligible to continue participation in the district's group medical-hospitalization plan at the district's group rate. An employee's right to continue participation in such group insurance plan will be discontinued upon reaching the age of 65 or when insurance is obtained elsewhere.
- Licensed personnel who elect to take early separation pursuant to this policy are eligible to continue participation in the district's group term life insurance plan at the district's group rate. An employee's right to continue participation in such group term life insurance plan will be discontinued upon reaching the age of 65 or when insurance is obtained elsewhere.
- Licensed personnel will pay the premiums for all such insurance. It is the responsibility of employees to pay to the school district the monthly premium amounts on such dates as determined by the district. All insurance provided through the district are subject to the terms and conditions of the carriers.
COMPENSATION FOR DISTRICT WORK FOLLOWING EARLY SEPARATION
Licensed personnel electing early separation may support the district as a substitute teacher or on a consultant basis. As consultants participating in this program, individuals will be offered employment which could include substitute teaching as allowed by the Board of Educational Examiners regulations, demonstration teaching, working on staff development and in-service programs, and curriculum development projects. Participants in this program will receive contracted amounts mutually designed not to interfere with benefits allowed by IPERS or social security.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
The school board will determine the method of payment for the incentives as a 403(b) account and the time period during which to make full payment to the individual account within a one-to-five-year span. The individual will have the option to present their needs prior to the determination. The length of time for full payment will be determined in writing and the appropriate installments calculated before the first payment is made. If the payment plan determined by the school board is unsatisfactory, the licensed personnel may retract their early separation request.
RESTRICTIONS
- Separation pay will not be granted to licensed personnel who are discharged for causes other than staff reduction; and
- Incentives pursuant to this policy can be received only once.
BENEFICIARY
In the event of the death of licensed personnel prior to payment of the early separation incentive, the early separation incentive will be paid to the designated beneficiary in a one lump sum payment. In the event no beneficiary is designated, the incentive will be paid to the individual’s estate in a one lump sum payment.
AMMENDMENT OR APPEAL
The school board has complete discretion to offer, or not to offer, an early separation plan for licensed personnel. The board may discontinue the district’s early separation plan at any time.
The adoption of this policy will not vest any rights in any licensed personnel whether or not the employee is currently eligible for early separation. The school board will have complete discretion to amend or repeal this policy at any time. The district will not be obligated to provide any of the incentives to any licensed personnel after the date of such amendment or repeal except to those licensed employees whose early separation, pursuant to this policy, has commenced prior to the amendment or repeal.
COMMUNICATION PROCESS
Following the school board’s annual decision regarding the offer of incentives, licensed personnel who are eligible and who have notified the board by the date set by the board of their intent to request early separation will receive a letter from the administration notifying them of the conditions offered by the board. These employees will respond no later than the date set by the board following the receipt of the letter with the conditions of the offer as to their acceptance of the conditions of the board’s early separation offer. The eligible employee’s response will be in the form of a letter indicating their intent to retire at the conclusion of their current contract.
Adopted: 6/88
Reviewed: 12/11; 4/13; 12/16; 4/20; 4/23
Revised: 3/11; 9/14; 3/19; 2/24
Related Policy: Series 401
Legal Reference (Code of Iowa): §§ 97B; 216; 279.46; 281 IAC 21
IASB Reference: 407.03; 407.06, 407.06-E(1)-E(3)