Sec 15-1327. Limitations on reduction of salaries or personnel

A. The board of directors may direct the superintendent to reduce salaries or eliminate permanent employee positions in the Arizona state schools for the deaf and the blind in order to effectuate economies in the operation of the schools or to improve the efficient conduct and administration of the schools. The superintendent, with the approval of the board, may designate the positions to be eliminated within an employee classification, and the reduction of personnel shall occur within and be limited to that specific employee classification. A person whose position is eliminated does not have a preferred right to employment in a different employee classification, except that when a vacancy exists in a teaching position and no teacher who is currently employed at any of the schools applies for the position, a person whose position in a management or supervisory position is eliminated has a preferred right to employment as a teacher, provided that the person is qualified for the teaching position. A person whose position is eliminated and who is transferred to a different position in a lower grade does not have a preferred right to a continued salary based on the former position or to any particular salary level in the lower grade. No reduction in the salary of a certificated teacher or credentialed specialist who has been employed by the schools for more than one year shall be made except in accordance with a general salary reduction in the schools by which the person is employed, and in such case the reduction shall be applied equitably among all permanent employees.

B. Notice of a general salary reduction shall be given to each certificated teacher and credentialed specialist affected not later than May 15 before the fiscal year in which the reduction is to take effect.

C. A permanent employee dismissed for reasons of economy or to improve the efficient conduct and administration of the schools shall have a preferred right of reappointment in the order of original employment by the board of directors in the event of an increase in the number of permanent employees or the reestablishment of services within a period of three years.