Classified employees who wish to resign during the school year will give the board notice of their intent to resign and final date of employment and cancel their contract 10 days prior to their last working day.

Notice of the intent to resign will be in writing to the superintendent.

 

Legal Reference:          Iowa Code §§ 91A.2, .3, .5; 279.19A; 285.5(9) (2003).

 

 

Cross Reference:          411.3   Classified Employee Contracts

                                    413      Classified Employee Termination of Employment

 

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 02/18/2008                           Revised 08/15/2022

                                                                             05/21/2012

                                                                             05/15/2017

                                                                             08/15/2022

 

Classified employees who will complete their current contract with the board may apply for classified employee early retirement plan.  No classified employee will be required to retire at any specific age.

Application for employee early retirement will be considered made when the classified employee states in writing to the superintendent, no later than 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2018 that the employee wishes to retire at the end of the fiscal year.  Applications made after the date set by the board may be considered by the board if special circumstances exist.  It shall be within the sole discretion of the board to determine whether special circumstances exist.

Board action to approve a classified employee's application for retirement shall be final, and such action constitutes resignation from employment and termination of the employee's contract effective the day of the employee's retirement.

Classified employees who retire under this policy may also qualify for retirement benefits through the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System.

Classified employees 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 the requirements of the insurer.

 

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 91A.2, .3, .5; 279.19A, .46 (2011).

Cross Reference:  401.14 Recognition for Service of Employees
                                      413.3   Classified Employee Early Retirement Plan

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 12/17/2007                           Revised 01/14/2009
                                                                                            11/17/2008                                       07/27/2009
                                                                                            02/09/2009                                       11/16/2009
                                                                                                                                                           02/22/2010     
                                                                                                                                                           12/19/2011
                                                                                                                                                           03/18/2013
                                                                                                                                                           01/20/2014
                                                                                                                                                           01/19/2015
                                                                                                                                                           12/19/2016
                                                                                                                                                           01/15/2018                                                                                                                                                                             

 

The Board of Education of the Independence Community School District agrees to provide a supplemental benefit for classified employees, due to early retirement from the district. The purpose of the early retirement plan is to:  1) enable staff modifications without disrupting the careers of those who do not wish to leave the education profession; 2) facilitate a long-range cost savings to the school district.

   Eligibility for early retirement plan is based on the following criteria:

   1. Is available to employees of the age of 55 on or before June 30th of the current fiscal year.

2. Wish to retire voluntarily from service in the Independence Community School District.

3. Has been actively employed during the school year in which one requests retirement benefits.

4. Has completed a minimum of fifteen (15) years continuous full time service to the Independence Community  

    School District by June 30th of the current fiscal year and are 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.                                                                                               

5. Is not receiving payments from the district’s long-term disability insurance program or any other wage

    replacement program.

   6. Has not been discharged for cause or notified that their contract is under consideration of termination or 

       reduction.

   7. Receives approval for resignation and participation in this program by the Board of Education.

   8. Is one of the first five (5) classified applicants.

Approval of the accompanying request for resignation will be considered as final action of the employee’s resignation and will constitute termination of his/her continuing contract at the completion of the current school year.

An employee’s application for early retirement benefits is not, in itself, a resignation of a contract with the Independence Community School District.  However, acceptance by the Board of Education of an application for early retirement benefits will be considered a voluntary resignation and termination of the employee’s continuing contract effective at the end of the current fiscal year.  Should the board not accept the application, the employee will remain a classified employee of the Independence Community School District, unless the employee otherwise resigns, is discharged or is reduced from the staff.

A recipient of this policy provision may choose to continue coverage under the district’s hospitalization and major medical plan, if eligible at time of retirement, at the rate determined by the carrier, by paying the monthly premium amount in full to the business manager’s office prior to the date the district’s premium payment is made to the insurance carrier.  All insurance programs are subject to the policies of the insurance carriers.  Dependent’s insurance will cease at the same time as the employee’s.

BENEFIT OPTION:

Employees participating in the early retirement plan may elect to receive early retirement plan benefits of fifty percent (50%) of their current contracted annual salary (not to include supplemental or extra hours).

All benefits will be paid out in one lump sum into a 403(b) retirement plan in accordance with Internal Revenue Service guidelines and board determined plan.

In the event of the death of the employee prior to payment of the early retirement plan, payment shall be made to a designated beneficiary; or in the event no beneficiary is named, payment shall be made to the estate of the employee. 

                                                                                                                                 

Miscellaneous terms:

The district is not providing tax advice, and the employee must consult the employee’s own tax advisor for the actual taxability of retirement benefits.

The board reserves the right to determine how many and which employees will be granted benefits under this plan.

The board has complete discretion to offer or not offer a severance plan for classified employees.  The board may discontinue the school district’s severance plan at any time.  In the event the severance plan is altered or ended, employees who separated from the district under its provisions will continue to receive the benefits authorized by the Board of Education prior to that time. 

 

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code     279.46; 509A.13 (2011)

Cross Reference:  401.14 Recognition for Service of Employees
                                      407.3     Licensed Employee Early Retirement Plan

Approved 07/18/2005                           Reviewed 01/15/2018               Revised 12/17/2007     12/19/2011
                                                                                                                                    11/17/2008     03/18/2013
                                                                                                                                    01/14/2009     01/20/2014
                                                                                                                                    02/09/2009     01/19/2015
                                                                                                                                    07/27/2009
                                                                                                                                    11/16/2009
                                                                                                                                    02/22/2010

 

 

Classified employees will perform their assigned job, respect and follow board policy and obey the law.  The superintendent is authorized to suspend a classified employee with or without pay pending board action on a discharge or during investigation of charges against the employee or for disciplinary purposes.  It will be within the discretion of the superintendent to suspend a classified employee with or without pay.

In the event of a suspension, due process will be followed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legal Reference:          Northeast Community Education Association v. Northeast Community School District, 402 N.W.2d 765 (Iowa 1987).

                                    McFarland v. Board of Education of Norwalk Community School District, 277 N.W.2d 901 (Iowa 1979).

                                    Iowa Code §§ 20.7, .24 (2003).

 

Cross Reference:          404      Employee Conduct and Appearance

                                    413      Classified Employee Termination of Employment

 

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 02/18/2008                           Revised 08/15/2022

                                                                             05/21/2012

                                                                             05/15/2017

                                                                             08/15/2022

 

 

The board believes classified employees should perform their jobs, respect board policy and obey the law.  A classified employee may be dismissed upon thirty days notice or immediately for cause.  Due process procedures will be followed.

In the event that the superintendent does not want to exercise the authority to terminate a classified employee under board policy 411.1, it will be the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation for dismissal to the board.  A classified employee may be dismissed for any reason, including, but not limited to, incompetence, willful neglect of duty, reduction in force, willful violation of board policy or administrative regulations, or a violation of the law.

 

Legal Reference:          Iowa Code §§ 20.7, .24 (2003).

 

 

Cross Reference:          404      Employee Conduct and Appearance

                                    413.4   Classified Employee Suspension

                                    413.6   Classified Employee Reduction in Force

 

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 02/18/2008                           Revised 01/18/2010

                                                                             01/18/2010                                         08/15/2022

                                                                             05/21/2012

                                                                                  05/15/2017     

                                                                             08/15/2022

 

 

It is the exclusive power of the board to determine when a reduction in classified employees is necessary.  Employees who are terminated due to a reduction in force will be given notice as soon as practical.  Due process will be followed for terminations due to a reduction in force.

It will be the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation for termination to the board. 

 

Legal Reference:          Iowa Code §§ 20.7, .24 (2003).

 

Cross Reference:          407.6   Licensed Employee Reduction in Force

                                    413.4   Classified Employee Suspension

                                    413.5   Classified Employee Dismissal

                                    703      Budget

 

Approved 11/1/2004                             Reviewed 02/18/2008                           Revised 05/21/2012

                                                                             05/21/2012                                         06/17/2019

                                                                                  05/15/2017                                          08/15/2022

                                                                                  06/17/2019

                                                                             08/15/2022