MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING
Education Minnesota – Roseville and District 623 School Board mutually agree to the following:
Eligibility requirements: This memorandum applies to teachers who have met the following provisions: Became a Teacher Retirement Association (TRA) member prior to July 1, 1989, is within five years of qualifying for the “Rule of Ninety” and were employed by Roseville Area Schools prior to July 1, 2015.
Pre-Rule of Ninety Opportunity.
Eligible teachers may choose to take up to a five (5) year extended leave “window to retirement” as provided by TRA policy covering Extended Leave. That is, a teacher may request an extended leave of absence for up to five years and would be allowed to retire at the end of any school year during the leave or in the year when the teacher qualifies for the “Rule of Ninety.” The School District will pay the district’s share of the TRA contribution during this leave. While on this leave, a teacher eligible for insurance benefits under Article Seven of the teacher’s contract will receive insurance benefits in accordance with Article Seven, Section 1, i.e., medical.
The teacher’s share of TRA will be paid by the School District in accordance with MS 354.094, Subd. 1. This contribution to TRA will be based upon the salary recognized by TRA during the last year of employment.
While the teacher may retire during this leave, there is no requirement to retire. A teacher returning to duty at the beginning of a school year must submit their letter of intent on or before March 1 of the prior school year. To qualify for the extended leave provisions of M.S. 122A.46, the teacher must:
Have ten years of allowable service.
At least five years in District 623
Not accept another contractual position in a Minnesota public school while on leave since they would lose their reinstatement rights.
If a teacher retires while on this leave and is eligible for the provisions in Article Seven of the teacher’s contract, the district will pay the teacher’s insurance package in the manner prescribed in the early retirement section of this contract, (Article Seven, Section 1, Subd. 7 and 8). Severance will be paid according to Article Seven, Section 1, Subd. 4 and based upon the salary from final year of active employment.
If a teacher who is eligible for the provisions described in Article Seven of the teacher’s contract, accepts the provisions of this Memorandum of Understanding and subsequently returns to active employment in District 623, prior to retirement, then the district’s payments for insurance benefits would be reduced by the length of time the teacher was on this type of leave.
Written notification to the school district to request this type of leave must be received on or before February 1st prior to the year of the intended leave or a later date if mutually agreed upon by the Teacher and the School District.
This memo expires as of June 30, 20237.