All employees of the all purpose regional district shall continue in their respective positions in the new district and all of their rights of tenure, seniority, pension, leave of absence and other similar benefits shall be recognized and preserved and any periods of prior employment in the all purpose regional district shall count toward the acquisition of tenure to the same extent as if the employment had been under the new district. Any tenured employee in a school located in the new district who desires to remain in the employ of the all purpose regional district, and whose seniority under existing tenure laws so permits, may apply for and shall be granted a transfer to a position with the all purpose regional district for which he is certified which is vacant, held by a tenured employee with less seniority or by an employee without tenure. Applications for these transfers shall be made within 45 days of the date of the special school election at which the withdrawal was approved.

L.1989,c.90,s.15.