Several school districts in the area are using early teacher retirement to handle their costs differently. The policy varies based on each district, but teachers must be at least 55 years old to be eligible in Iowa. South Central Calhoun is offering this option for the first time in three years, and Superintendent Jeff Kruse says this is just one of many ways school decrease their costs.
Teacher salaries are paid out of a general fund and can create budget difficulties when the salary schedule causes the experienced teachers to be a major cost to schools. Kruse says there are many reasons for an institution to offer this option to teachers.
SCC offered their staff $10,000 to take the offer and limited the maximum number of early retirements to seven. At East Sac County, only one teacher has accepted their early retirement plan and will receive $15,000 as part of the package. Coon Rapids-Bayard and Audubon schools have also offered early retirement to teachers.
