The Carroll Community School District (CCSD) Board of Education is starting to review policy and finances in anticipation of needing to reduce costs in the coming years. An expected zero percent growth in funds provided by the state prompted them to consider changing their policy regarding teacher payouts for early retirement. Under current rules, an employee must be at least 55 years old, work full-time and have at least 15 years of consecutive service or 30 years total to the district. Right now, 17 teachers and five administrators fit those requirements. Superintendent, Rob Cordes, says the board will almost certainly need to make cuts at some point.
The board has the final say on whether early retirement will be offered each year. The plan pays a lump sum payment of 50 percent of the employee’s current year salary up to $30,000 dollars. This reduces costs by allowing the district to either find a cheaper or younger employee or not find a replacement at all. Cordes encouraged the board consider keeping quality teachers as a high priority.
If CCSD needs to reduce staff, the board needs to make the plan worth taking for their employees. Buying back sick days or altering dollar amounts were discussed as options. Future cuts in areas like management or insurance policies were also considered.
The board did not need to make a decision on the policies Monday night, so they requested a more thorough financial breakdown of their options. The issue was tabled until next month’s board meeting on Monday, Aug. 21 at 6 p.m. in the Adams Elementary School boardroom.
