The decision whether teachers and administrators with School District 55 can retire then work an additional year on special contract will be made on a case-by-case basis.
The district has allowed a number of teachers and administrators to do this in the past. That included retired Supt. Bill Hampton last school year. This year, two retired teachers and one counselor are working on special contract.
Under the arrangement, often called “double dipping,” the retired employee retires and begins collecting retirement payments from the Public Employees Retirement System. They go to work the following year on a special contract. The district does not pay retirement on those employees. The employees can work 1,039 per calendar year, which means they can work a full school year.
At last week’s regular School Board meeting, the board approved the retirement of teacher Glen Looney and Principal Vic Zgorzelski. Both work at Foster Elementary School. Both asked to work next year on special contract.
Supt. Larry Horton was not ready to say yes to the request, he said. Being new to the district, he wanted to take the concept in general to the board and discuss it.
Based on the discussion, Supt. Horton will consider the benefit to the district of hiring the teacher or administrator back on special contract before making a decision. He will consider the financial impact and the district’s needs as well as other factors, such as experience.
In the case of Zgorzelski, the district is reducing one administrator next year, Supt. Horton said. “I don’t have to hire new staff to fill the position.”
Instead of returning Zgorzelski on special contract, principals will be moved within the elementary schools. Gloria Mittleman will move to Foster from Hawthorne. Mike Aman will move to Hawthorne from Holley and Crawfordsville. Keith Winslow will remain at Oak Heights. Student Services Director Elena Barton will spend half time at Crawfordsville. Curriculum Director Jan Sharp will spend half time at Holley.
Supt. Horton does not know yet whether Looney will return on special contract. That depends on whether the district must layoff teachers. The 2003-04 budget will reduce teaching staff by five positions districtwide.
A contracted teacher cannot be laid off if the district has an opening at another site, Supt. Horton said.
After looking at that issue, Supt. Horton said, “I look at – is it a benefit to the district?”
The district can realize savings in its budget by offering special contracts, Supt. Horton said. The district picks up its employees’ contribution to PERS, 6 percent of the salary, plus the employer’s share, more than 12 percent for a total of more than 18 percent. Depending on the Oregon legislature’s action this year on PERS, that rate could increase to more than 24 percent.
In some cases, it may be cost effective to hire back the retired teacher for a year, Supt. Horton said. In addition, the district may get to retain the services of a high-quality teacher instead of an inexperienced new teacher.
“If we can hire the experienced teacher for the same cost or less, to me it makes sense to do that,” Supt. Horton said. “If financially we can hire back a teacher that retired and can do so in a way that is cost effective for the district, it’s positive for the district.”