The governing board of a district shall employ faculty for the first academic year of his or her employment by contract. Any person who, at the time an employment contract is offered to him or her by the district, is neither a tenured employee of the district nor a probationary employee then serving under a second or third contract entered into pursuant to Section 87608 shall be deemed to be employed for “the first academic year of his or her employment.” A faculty member shall be deemed to have completed his or her first contract year if he or she provides service for 75 percent of the first academic year.