Classified employees who will complete their current contract with the board may apply for retirement. No classified employee will be required to retire at a specific age.
Application for retirement will be considered when the classified employee states in writing to the superintendent, no later than the date set by the board for the return of the employee's contract to the board, if applicable, the employee’s intent to retire. The letter must state the employee's desire to retire and be witnessed by another party other than the principal or the superintendent.
Board action to approve a classified employee's application for retirement shall be final and such action constitutes termination of the employee's contract for the next school year.
Classified employees and their spouse and dependents who have group insurance coverage through the school district may be allowed to continue coverage in the school district's group health insurance program, at their own expense, by meeting requirements of the insurer.
Classified employees who retire under this policy may qualify for retirement benefits through the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS).
A. Determining Eligibility:
Employees must meet the following criteria to be eligible to participate in the retirement program:
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in applying this provision, an employee will be at least the age of fifty-five (55) on or before June 30, 2024;
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wish to retire voluntarily from service in the East Buchanan Community School District;
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has been actively employed during the school year in which one requests retirement benefits;
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has completed a minimum of Twelve (12) years continuous service to the East Buchanan Community School District and is currently employed at the time the voluntary retirement request is made. A leave of absence may interrupt continuous service without affecting the continuous years of service rule. Professional and military leave will qualify toward continuous service;
When a classified employee* retires after Twelve (12) or more years of continuous employment with the East Buchanan Community School District and has accumulated sick leave up to a maximum of 120 days sick leave, a retirement stipend shall be paid based upon the following schedule. The retiring employee’s retirement benefit check will be paid out on July 20th of the retiring year.
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The retirement applicant will be paid one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each eligible sick day times their average FTE (maximum 1.0 FTE).
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Each retirement applicant will have their FTE determined by averaging the FTE for the previous four (4) contract years and their FTE during the school year in which they request retirement.
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Each retirement applicant will have their number of eligible sick days determined by averaging the remaining sick days on May 30th for the previous four (4) contract years and their remaining sick days on May 30th during the school year in which they request retirement.
The early retirement program is not available to any employee who has received notification of possible contract termination or who has been discharged, with the Board of Education the final determiner of that status.
Classified employees must submit a written application to the Superintendent of Schools at least sixty (60) days prior to their retirement date.
* An employee in a classified position must have been employed during the entire school year – from the first student day of school to the last student day of school between July 1st and June 30th to be credited with one year of employment.
Legal Reference: 29 U.S.C. Sect. 621 et seq. (2012)
Iowa Code §§ 91A.2, .3, .5; 97B; 216; 279.19A, .46 (2013).
1978 Op. Att'y Gen. 247
1974 Op. Att'y Gen. 11, 322.
Cross Reference: 412 Classified Employee Compensation and Benefits
413 Classified Employee Termination of Employment
Approved: July 16, 2001
Reviewed: November 9, 2016; November 14, 2018; December 11, 2019; November 11, 2020; December 8, 2021; December 14, 2022 (revised); July 12, 2023; November 2024