§ 2585. Continuation in office of boards, bureaus, teachers, principals and other employees, et cetera. 1. Except as otherwise provided herein the boards, bureaus, teachers, principals, supervisors, superintendents, heads of departments, assistants to principals, examiners, supervisors of lectures, directors and all other officers and employees of the school systems or of boards of education of the several cities of the state, lawfully appointed or assigned before June eighth, nineteen hundred seventeen, shall continue to hold their respective positions for the term for which they were appointed or until removed as provided in subdivision five of section twenty-five hundred twenty-three of this article.

2. If a board of education abolishes an office or position and creates another office or position for the performance of duties similar to those performed in the office or position abolished, the person filling such office or position at the time of its abolishment shall be appointed to the office or position thus created without reduction in salary or increment, provided the record of such person has been one of faithful, competent service in the office or position he has filled.

3. Whenever a board of education abolishes a position under this chapter, the services of the teacher having the least seniority in the system within the tenure of the position abolished shall be discontinued.

4. If an office or position is abolished or if it is consolidated with another position without creating a new position, the person filling such position at the time of its abolishment or consolidation shall be placed upon a preferred eligible list of candidates for appointment to a vacancy that then exists or that may thereafter occur in an office or position similar to the one which such person filled without reduction in salary or increment, provided the record of such person has been one of faithful, competent service in the office or position he has filled. The persons on such preferred list shall be reinstated or appointed to such corresponding or similar positions in the order of their length of service in the system.