Staff Reduction 11.1 When a reduction within the District is needed, the affected employee(s) and the Association will be notified as to which position(s) will be eliminated or reduced at least fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the reduction. 11.2 When a reduction within the District is needed, the Board will determine which position(s) will be eliminated or reduced. An employee whose position will be eliminated or reduced shall have the right to displace an employee in his/her present job classification or another job classification in accordance with the following: a. The laid off or reduced employee has greater seniority than the employee to be displaced. b. The laid off or reduced employee had an equal or greater number of hours in his/her regular schedule than the employee to be displaced. c. The laid off or reduced employee presently has the necessary qualifications to perform the work. d. The laid off or reduced employee elects to exercise his/her displacement rights within five (5) working days of notification of his/her layoff or reduction. An employee displaced under this section is also entitled to displacement rights under this section. 11.3 When filling vacancies which occur after a reduction in staff, laid off bargaining unit members who have been released less than two (2) years, shall be recalled in the order of seniority, with the most senior member being recalled first to any position for which he/she is qualified. Effective July 1, 1991, newly hired bargaining unit members shall be subject to recall for two (2) years. If the employee fails to report to work within ten (10) working days from the receipt of the recall notice via certified or registered mail, that person shall be considered a voluntary terminated employee. However, if an employee is recalled to a position of lesser hours, he/she shall have the option to refuse the position and shall not be removed from the recall list as a result of this action. 11.4 An employee may elect to accept layoff rather than exercise his/her bumping rights. 11.5 For the purposes of this agreement, qualified shall be defined as capable of skillfully and efficiently performing the job duties as summarized in the job description in a competent manner with minimal instruction. The District reserves the right to test employees as needed. Qualified includes the following: a. Any licenses, certification and training necessary to perform the job, and b. demonstrated skills and merits. The most senior qualified employee shall be selected, excepting that a less senior candidate may be selected if he/she has greatly superior training and skills. The burden of proof of greatly superior training and skills shall be on the Board.