5001 - Hiring of Retired School Employees

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BOARD POLICY No. 5001

The Walla Walla school District will recruit, select and employ the best-qualified individuals as employees. The district may employ persons retired from the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS), the School Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) or the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS). A retired employee will only be rehired pursuant to this district policy.

TRS Plan 1 Retirees
TRS Plan 1 retirees who reenter employment more than one calendar month after their accrual date may be employed in a non-administrative position for up to 867 hours in a school year without suspension of their pension benefits.

Until July 1, 2025, TRS Plan 1 retirees who enter reemployment more than one calendar month after their accrual date may work in a school district in a non-administrative position for up to 1,040 hours in a school year and continue to receive their pension payments.

TRS Plan 2 & Plan 3 Retirees
TRS Plan 2 and Plan 3 retirees who reenter employment more than one calendar year after their accrual date may be employed in an eligible position as defined in RCW 41.32.010, 41.35.010, or 41.40.010 for up to 867 hours in a calendar year without suspension of their pension benefits.

TRS Plan 2 and Plan 3 retirees who have retired under the alternate early retirement provisions of RCW 41.32.765(3)(b) or 41.32.875(3)(b) and who reenter employment more than one calendar month after their accrual date and after June 9, 2016, may be employed in a non-administrative capacity for up 867 hours in a calendar year without suspension of their pension benefits.

Until July 1, 2025, TRS Plan 2 and Plan 3 retirees who enter reemployment more than one calendar month after their accrual date may work in a school district in a non-administrative position for up to 1,040 hours in a calendar year and continue to receive their pension payments.

SERS Plan 2 & 3 Retirees
SERS Plan 2 and Plan 3 retirees who reenter employment more than one calendar year after their accrual date may be employed in an eligible position as defined in RCW 41.32.010, 41.35.010, or 41.40.010 for up to 867 hours in a calendar year without suspension of their pension benefits.

SERS Plan 2 and Plan 3 retirees who have retired under the alternate early retirement provisions of RCW 41.35.420(3)(b) and who reenter employment more than one calendar month after their accrual date may be employed in a non-administrative capacity for up 867 hours in a calendar year without suspension of their pension benefits.

Until July 1, 2025, SERS Plan 2 and Plan 3 retirees who enter reemployment more than one calendar month after their accrual date, including those who have retired under the alternate early retirement provisions of RCW 41.35.420(3)(b) or 41.35.680(3)(b), may work in a school district in a non-administrative position for up to 1,040 hours in a calendar year and continue to receive their pension payments.

PERS Retirees
PERS retirees who reenter employment more than one calendar year after their accrual date may be employed in an eligible position as defined in RCW 41.32.010, 41.35.010, or 41.40.010 for up to 867 hours in a calendar year without suspension of their pension benefits.

Until July 1, 2025, PERS retirees who enter reemployment more than 100 days after their accrual date, including those who have retired under the alternate early retirement provisions of RCW 41.40.630(3)(b) or 41.40.820(3)(b), may work in a school district in a non-administrative position for up to 1,040 hours in a calendar year and continue to receive their pension payments.

District Responsibilities
The district will abide by the following process when considering a retiree for employment:

1. The board of directors will approve a process for recruitment and selection of employees, including those vacancies for which a retiree applicant may be considered;

2. Applicant(s) will be evaluated and considered equally, selecting the candidate who best meets the needs of the district;

3. There will be no prearranged employment agreement or commitment to rehire an employee after retirement. Mere inquiries about post-retirement employment do not constitute an agreement;

4. Employment will be limited to a maximum of a one-year, non-continuing contract or appointment;

5. Subject to any applicable bargaining agreements, vacancies filled by retirees will be annually reviewed by the board to determine whether the retiree will be rehired for another year of employment;
6. The district will provide the retiree with the same terms and conditions of employment as other appointees or employees in comparable positions with the exception of sick-leave cash-out; and
7. The district will report the number of hours worked by the retiree to DRS.

Retired Employee Responsibilities
The following conditions of employment will apply to retirees that are re-employed:

1. Retired applicants will disclose to the district whether they are retired from a Washington state retirement plan.

2. Employees must satisfy the DRS requirement for separation and retirement from service prior to accepting a retire/rehire position with the district.

3. Retirees are subject to the same collective bargaining membership as other one-year temporary employees.

4. Retirees are responsible for tracking service hours during post-retirement employment among multiple employers.

Cross References:
Board Policy 5610 - Substitute Employment
Board Policy 5050 – Contracts

Legal References:
RCW 28A.405.900 Certain certificated employees exempt from chapter provisions
Chapter 41.32 RCW Teachers' retirement
RCW 41.32.570 Post-retirement employment—Reduction or suspension of pension payments
RCW 41.32.802 Reduction of retirement allowance upon reemployment or if covered by plan under RCW 28B.10.400 Reestablishment of membership
RCW 41.32.862 Reduction of retirement allowance upon reemployment or if covered by plan under RCW 28B.10.400 Reestablishment of membership
Chapter 41.35 RCW Washington school employees’ retirement system
RCW 41.35.060 Reduction of retirement allowance upon reemployment or if covered by plan under RCW 28B.10.400 Reestablishment of membership
Chapter 41.40 RCW Washington public employees' retirement system
RCW 41.40.037 Service by retirees—Break in employment requirement—Reduction of retirement allowance upon reemployment—Reestablishment of membership

Adopted: September 4, 2007
Revised: October 18, 2016
Revised: December 13, 2022

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