Purdy

Petitioner, Ruth Purdy, appeals from a superior court judgment denying her petition for a peremptory writ of mandate pursuant to Code of Civil Procedure section 1094.5, by which she sought to set aside a decision of the respondent Teachers’ Retirement Board (hereinafter the Board) denying her an additional amount in retirement benefits claimed by her from the State Teachers’ Retirement System (hereinafter the STRS).

The Facts

Petitioner, for approximately seven years before her retirement on August 31, 1976, was a certificated employee of the North Orange County Community College District (hereinafter referred to as the District). During the years 1972-1976 petitioner was employed at Fullerton College in various positions in the Adult Education Laboratories of the District. In that capacity she designed, implemented, operated and supervised an adult education program originally designed to teach office skills to women who were planning to reenter the work force. Over the years this program was expanded to include courses leading to a high school diploma and English as a second language. Courses included day and evening classes.

The employment contract offered to…