A licensed employee who wishes to resign must notify the superintendent in writing within the time period set by the board for return of the contract. This applies to regular contracts for the licensed employee's regular duties and for an extracurricular contract for extra duty. Resignations of this nature will be accepted by the board.
The board may require an individual who has resigned from an extracurricular contract to accept the resigned position for only the subsequent school year when the board has made a good faith effort to find a replacement and the licensed employee is continuing to be employed by the school district
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 91A.2, .3, .5; 279.13, .19A
Cross Reference: 405.3 Licensed Employee Individual Contracts
405.4 Licensed Employee Continuing Contracts
407 Licensed Employee Termination of Employment
Approved July 2000 Reviewed JNovember 2020 Revised
Licensed employees who wish to be released from an executed contract must give at least twenty-one days notice to the superintendent. Licensed employees may be released at the discretion of the board. Only in unusual and extreme circumstances will the board release a licensed employee from a contract. The board will have sole discretion to determine what constitutes unusual and extreme circumstances.
Release from a contract will be contingent upon finding a suitable replacement. Licensed employees requesting release from a contract after it has been signed and before it expires may be required to pay the board up to $1,000 for expenses incurred to locate and hire a suitable replacement. Upon written mutual agreement between the employee and the superintendent, the costs may be deducted from the employee's salary. Payment of these costs is a condition for release from the contract at the discretion of the board. Failure of the licensed employee to pay these expenses may result in a cause of action being filed in small claims court.
The superintendent is required to file a complaint with the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners against a licensed employee who leaves without proper release from the board.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 216; 272; 279.13, .19A, .46
1978 Op. Att'y Gen. 247.
1974 Op. Att'y Gen. 11, 322.
Cross Reference: 405.3 Licensed Employee Individual Contracts
405.4 Licensed Employee Continuing Contracts
407.3 Licensed Employee Retirement
Approved July 2000 Reviewed November 2020 Revised
Licensed employees who will complete their current contract with the board may apply for retirement. No licensed employee will be required to retire at a specific age.
Application for retirement will be considered made when the licensed 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, the intent of the employee 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. Applications made after the date set by the board for the return of the employee's contract to the board may be considered by the board if special circumstances exist. It is within the discretion of the board to determine whether special circumstances exist.
Board action to approve a licensed employee's application for retirement is final and such action constitutes nonrenewal of the employee's contract for the next school year.
Licensed employees who retire under this policy may qualify for retirement benefits through the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System.
Licensed employees and their spouse and dependents are 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 §§ 97B; 216; 279.46
581 I.A.C. 21.
1978 Op. Att'y Gen. 247.
1974 Op. Att'y Gen. 11, 322.
Cross Reference: 407.6 Licensed Employee Early Retirement
Approved July 2000 Reviewed November 2020 Revised
Licensed employees will perform their assigned job, respect and follow board policy and obey the law. The superintendent is authorized to suspend a licensed employee pending board action on a discharge, for investigation of charges against the employee, and for disciplinary purposes. It is within the discretion of the superintendent to suspend a licensed employee with or without pay.
In the event of a suspension, appropriate 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; 279.13, .15-.19, .27
Cross Reference: 404 Employee Conduct and Appearance
407 Licensed Employee Termination of Employment
Approved July 2000 Reviewed November 2020 Revised
The board has the exclusive authority to determine the appropriate number of licensed employees. A reduction of licensed employees may occur as a result of, but not be limited to, changes in the education program, staff realignment, changes in the size or nature of the student population, financial situation considerations, and other reasons deemed relevant by the board.
The reduction in licensed employees, other than administrators, will be done through normal attrition if possible. If normal attrition does not meet the necessary reduction in force required, the board may terminate licensed employees.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to make a recommendation for termination to the board. The superintendent shall consider the following criteria in making the recommendations:
• Endorsements and educational preparation within the grade level and subject areas in which the employee is now performing;
• Relative skills, ability and demonstrated performance;
• Professional judgment of the evaluator;
• Qualifications for co-curricular programs; and
• Number of continuous years of service to the school district. This will be considered only when the foregoing factors are relatively equal between licensed employees.
Due process for terminations due to a reduction in force will be followed.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 20.7, .24; 279.13, .15-.19, .27
Cross Reference: 407.5 Licensed Employee Suspension
413.6 Classified Employee Reduction in Force
703 Budget
Approved July 2000 Reviewed November 2020 Revised October 2018
The Board of Directors of the Cardinal Community School District reserves the right on an annual (or longer term) basis to offer or not offer an early retirement incentive plan for either or both its certified and classified employees. If the Board elects to offer an early retirement incentive plan, it shall approve the terms of that plan at a regular or special meeting of the Board and Administration shall distribute notice of the plan to employees. The duration of any early retirement incentive plan shall be included within the terms of the plan documents.
Eligible employees who will complete their current contract with the District and otherwise qualify under the current terms of any existing Board approved early retirement incentive plan may apply for early retirement in accordance with the plan documents. Applications for early retirement will be considered made when the employee fully completes and submits the early retirement incentive plan application to the Board Secretary no later than the deadline set by the Board in the early retirement incentive plan for the return of the early retirement application. The application must include a statement of the employee’s desire and intent to retire at the conclusion of the then current school year.
Early retirement applications made after the date set by the Board for the return of the early retirement applications may be considered by the Board if special circumstances exist. It is within the discretion of the Board to determine whether special circumstances exist.
Board action approving and employee’s application for early retirement if final and such action constitutes a non-renewal of the employee’s continuing contract with the District for the next school year.
Retired, eligible employees and their spouses who are on the District’s health insurance plan at the time of the eligible employee’s retirement are allowed to continue coverage in the District’s group health insurance program at their own expense by meeting the requirements of the insurer and the school’s insurance plan, until each has qualified for Medicare or attained age 65. If the insurer later discontinues the coverage in the District’s policy, he/she cannot re-enroll.
Additionally, employees who retire under this policy may qualify for retirement benefits through the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System.
This early retirement policy, by itself, or in conjunction with any Board approved early retirement incentive plan, shall not automatically vest any right in any employee, whether or not the employee is currently eligible for early retirement. The Board reserves the right to amend or terminate any previously approved early retirement incentive plan adopted by the Board pursuant to this policy, at any time in the future, with or without notice and shall not be obligated to provide any program to any employee after the date of such amendment or repeal.
Approved July 2000 Reviewed November 2020 Revised