The Carroll Community School District (CCSD) Board of Education has approved the first reading of a policy to offer staff members the option to take advantage of an early retirement program. Superintendent Rob Cordes says the board is considering bringing the policy back because the district’s state funding outlook is bleak.
Salaries constitute more than 80 percent of the district’s costs in the general fund, but retirement packages are paid through the management fund. Cordes says the savings are clearly evident from the last time early retirement was offered during the 2015-16 school year.
Due to the fear of being unable to fill too many teacher vacancies, the board has set the limit of eligible staff able to accept the offer at five. The proposed policy would offer staff who have been with the district for at least 15 continuous years and are 55 years old or older a lump sum of $20,000 to retire early. Interested employees will have from Monday, Oct. 16 to Friday, Dec. 1 to submit their applications. The first reading passed the board unanimously. The required second reading will be presented at the board’s next meeting on Monday, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. at the Adams Elementary School boardroom.
