9.1 The Board may permit a full-time unit member to reduce his or her workload from full-time to part-time and have his or her retirement benefits based upon full-time employment. Following are the rules and regulations for the implementation of the optional reduced load program with full retirement credit.
9.2 To be eligible to start the optional reduced load program, the unit member must be fifty-five (55) years of age or more before the beginning of his or her academic year in which the reduction in workload starts.
9.3 The option of reduced load shall be exercised upon mutual agreement of both the District and the unit member. The agreement requires official Board of Trustees approval and the required approval from the State Teachers’ Retirement section at the Los Angeles County Office of Education. Once the option is exercised, it is not revocable unless agreed to by the Board.
9.4 The unit member must have been employed full-time (100%) as an academic employee of the District for at least ten (10) years prior to the request for reduced load.
9.5 Except for the reduction in salary, corresponding to the reduced load, the District will provide the reduced-load employee the same benefits provided a regular full-time (100%) academic employee.
9.6 The District and the unit member shall agree to make contributions to the State Teachers’ Retirement System equal to the amount required of a full-time (100%) instructor.
9.7 A unit member on the optional reduced load program, upon mutual agreement with the District, as a minimum shall work:
- 100% the Fall semester and zero the Spring semester; or
- Zero the Fall semester and 100% the Spring semester; or
- 50% each semester; or
- any assignment that will average 50% or more for the two
semesters of the academic year.
9.8 By mutual agreement of the District and a unit member, the optional reduced load
program may be increased or decreased within the Educational Code limitations,
but shall not be decreased lower than an average of 50%.
9.9 If a unit member has been granted sabbatical leave within the five (5) years immediately preceding the request for the optional reduced load, the sabbatical year will be counted as full-time (100%) employment only if the unit member and the District paid into the retirement system the contributions necessary to bring the total contributions for the sabbatical year to 100% coverage.
9.10 Unit members who participate in this program will retain all full-time tenure rights but shall not have the option of returning to a full-time teaching position unless so agreed upon by the Board. This reduced load program shall be the precursor to the retirement of the unit member.
9.11 An applicant for the optional reduced load program shall inform the Superintendent/President of the intention to make application for the optional reduced load program no later than February 1st for the following academic year.