Incentive package nets retirees and savings for Connellsville district
CONNELLSVILLE — It appears a one-time retirement incentive offer to the Connellsville Area Education Association (CAEA) attracted 26 candidates.
During the Connellsville Area School Board work session on Monday, Dr. P.J. Carte, director and chairman of the personnel and review committee, said that the district savings will be about $90,000 for each position not filled and $40,000 for those teachers who are replaced.
Karen Marko, human resources director, estimated the average salary for the retirees at $72,000. The salary for a new employee is about $35,000.
In February, the district offered a payout of $10,000 and continued health benefits paid for by the district for two additional years if 13 teachers submitted their letters of retirement no later than April 30 and met several eligibility requirements.
The requirements included a minimum of 10 years of service and permanent retirement or if the retiree candidate is 62 years of age, any number of years would be acceptable to enter the program; age 60 with 30 years and age 55 with 25 years of service. Anyone with 35 years of service was eligible for the program, regardless of their age, according to the plan.
The $10,000 payout will be made in two separate $5,000 payments to the retiree’s retirement plan with the first in January 2013 and the second payment in January 2014.
The extension of health benefits would bring the total to six years under the current CAEA contract with the school district.
The district will continue to pay about $400 of the $500 monthly premium for individual coverage as included in the current contract agreement.
According to the work session agenda, the bulk of the retirees is elementary teachers, including Jane Sandusky, CAEA president and veteran teacher at Dunbar Borough Elementary School.
The added benefit contributed to her decision to retire.
“When I started this year, I had no intention of retiring,” she said following the meeting. “I grappled with this decision and I’m sure many of the others also did.
“I’ve enjoyed my time in the classroom and I will miss it.”
Official action in the matter will take place Wednesday at the board’s voting meeting.
Turning to other matters, the board is also likely to conduct the following business at Wednesday’s meeting:
n Approve the purchase of desks, tables and chairs for the high school planning center, lounge area and conference room from P.E.M. Co. at a cost of $70,948.
n Enter into an agreement with Mount Aloysius College for dual enrollment.
n Authorize two Connellsville police officers and eight students taking part in the school patrol programs at South Side and Zachariah Connell elementary schools to travel to Gettysburg and Hershey on May 17-19 at no cost to the district.
n Amend the school calendar to add May 29 as a make-up day.