Any probationary employee whose services have been terminated as provided in Section 44955 shall have the following rights:
(a)
For the period of 24 months from the date of such termination, any employee who in the meantime has not attained the age of 65 years shall have the preferred right to reappointment, subject to the prior rights to reappointment by all permanent employees as set forth in Section 44956, in the order of original employment as determined by the governing board in accordance with the provisions of Sections 44831 to 44855, inclusive, if the number of employees is increased or the discontinued service is reestablished, with no requirements that were not imposed upon other employees who continued in service. Except as otherwise provided, no probationary or temporary employee with less seniority shall be employed to render a service which such employee is certificated and competent to render and provided that such an employee shall be given a priority over employees whose right to a position is derived pursuant to Section 44918. However, prior to reappointing any employee to teach a subject which he or she has not previously taught, and for which he or she does not have a teaching credential or which is not within the employee’s major area of postsecondary study or the equivalent thereof, the governing board shall require the employee to pass a subject matter competency test in the appropriate subject.
(b)
Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a school district may deviate from reappointing a probationary employee in order of seniority for either of the following reasons:
(1)
The district demonstrates a specific need for personnel to teach a specific course or course of study, or to provide services authorized by a services credential with a specialization in either pupil personnel services or health for a school nurse, and that the employee has special training and experience necessary to teach that course or course of study, or to provide those services, which others with more seniority do not possess.
(2)
For purposes of maintaining or achieving compliance with constitutional requirements related to equal protection of the laws.
(c)
As to any such employee who is reappointed, the period of his absence shall be treated as a leave of absence and shall not be considered as a break in the continuity of his service, he shall retain the classification and order of employment he had when his services were terminated, and credit for prior service under any state or district retirement system shall not be affected by such termination; provided, however, that the period of his absence shall not be counted as a part of the service required for attaining permanent status in the district or, except as provided in subdivision (e), for retirement purposes.
(d)
During the period of his preferred right to reappointment, any such employee shall, in the order of original employment, and subject to the rights of permanent employees as set forth in Section 44956, be offered prior opportunity for substitute service during the absence of any other employee who has been granted leave of absence or who is temporarily absent from duty; provided, that his services may be terminated upon a return to duty of such other employee, that such substitute service shall not affect the retention of his previous classification and rights, and that such an employee shall be given a priority over employees whose right to a substitute position is derived pursuant to Section 44918.
(e)
At any time prior to the completion of one year after his return to service, an employee reappointed under the provisions of this section may elect to continue or to reinstate his membership and interest in any state or district retirement system and to receive retirement benefits as if no absence from service had occurred. In the event of such election the employee shall pay into the retirement system the amount of his share of contribution and the district’s share of contribution attributable to the period of absence and the amount of any contributions withdrawn, plus interest.