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Four members of the YME and MVCC certified staff have applied for and have been approved for retirement incentives and one member has been approved for an extended leave of absence under Memorandum of Understandings (MOU).
Discussions earlier this year between the districts and the teachers union (EMYME) resulted in the districts offering an opportunity for certified staff that have reached the Rule of 90 retirement option an incentive to retire. The Rule of 90 gives certified staff full teacher retirement benefits when the number of years of service and their age total 90. Most teachers reach the Rule of 90 in their late fifties. The retirement incentive provides for a one-time payment to the Minnesota Heath Care Savings Plan of $15,000 for a full time teacher. The YME teachers include Ryan Bremmer, high school business and Steve Huettle, 6th grade teacher. Social worker Margaret Khali and deaf and hard of hearing specialist Barb Bruflat are the MVCC employees who have been approved for the retirement incentive.
One member of the MVCC certified staff has applied for and has been approved for an extended leave of absence. While the extended leave of absence does not include any cash payout to the teacher it does provide insurance benefits and payments into the Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) fund. The district’s offer allows the teacher to participate in the district’s health and hospitalization, dental, and life insurance programs paid by the School District up to $6,500 per year and the district pays for both the teacher and employer contributions to the TRA account based on the teacher’s 2010-2011 salary for the duration of the leave. MVCC special education teacher Rita Strand was approved for an extended leave of absence.
The early retirement and leave of absence options have become a popular way for schools to save money on teachers’ salaries. More experienced teachers garner high salaries. The concept is to allow the districts an opportunity to hire replacement staff at a lower salary. “The actual savings can’t be determined until we know what the salaries of the replacement teachers will be,” shared LeeAnn Boushek, YME CFO. Savings mentioned at the board meetings ranged from $40,000 to $80,000.
In other personnel items the board approved notifying high school counselor Val Skjefte of a proposed placement on Unrequested Leave of Absence (ULA). Superintendent Al Stoeckman explained that for the past two years, Skjefte’s salary has been covered with monies from the intergenerational funds that the school receives from the state based on YME being identified as a racially isolated district. “Last month we were notified that we are no longer identified as a racially isolated district, and we may lose that funding,” Stoeckman said. Stoeckman made it clear that the action the board was taking was not cutting the ½ counselor’s position now. “We have a legal obligation to notify her that the position may be cut. This action will allow for a timeline to occur to determine if YME will continue to receive the intergenerational funds, if the district will cover the salary from the general fund, or if the counselor duties will be picked up by another certified staff.”
The board approved a child care leave for senior high English teacher Laura Bristle.
Policy Updates
The board approved policy updates in the 700 series– Non-Instructional Operations and Business Services; the 800 series –Building/ Sites; and the 900 series – Community Relations.
Action Items
• The board approved the bills for payment.
• The board approved the revised budget for FY 2011.
• The board approved an early out for seniors. The last day for seniors will be Friday, May 27.
• The board approved a four year lease with Apple, Inc. covering 68 workstations to replace current workstations that are identified by Apple as being phased out of production.
Four members of the YME and MVCC certified staff have applied for and have been approved for retirement incentives and one member has been approved for an extended leave of absence under Memorandum of Understandings (MOU).
Discussions earlier this year between the districts and the teachers union (EMYME) resulted in the districts offering an opportunity for certified staff that have reached the Rule of 90 retirement option an incentive to retire. The Rule of 90 gives certified staff full teacher retirement benefits when the number of years of service and their age total 90. Most teachers reach the Rule of 90 in their late fifties. The retirement incentive provides for a one-time payment to the Minnesota Heath Care Savings Plan of $15,000 for a full time teacher. The YME teachers include Ryan Bremmer, high school business and Steve Huettle, 6th grade teacher. Social worker Margaret Khali and deaf and hard of hearing specialist Barb Bruflat are the MVCC employees who have been approved for the retirement incentive.
One member of the MVCC certified staff has applied for and has been approved for an extended leave of absence. While the extended leave of absence does not include any cash payout to the teacher it does provide insurance benefits and payments into the Teachers Retirement Association (TRA) fund. The district’s offer allows the teacher to participate in the district’s health and hospitalization, dental, and life insurance programs paid by the School District up to $6,500 per year and the district pays for both the teacher and employer contributions to the TRA account based on the teacher’s 2010-2011 salary for the duration of the leave. MVCC special education teacher Rita Strand was approved for an extended leave of absence.
The early retirement and leave of absence options have become a popular way for schools to save money on teachers’ salaries. More experienced teachers garner high salaries. The concept is to allow the districts an opportunity to hire replacement staff at a lower salary. “The actual savings can’t be determined until we know what the salaries of the replacement teachers will be,” shared LeeAnn Boushek, YME CFO. Savings mentioned at the board meetings ranged from $40,000 to $80,000.
In other personnel items the board approved notifying high school counselor Val Skjefte of a proposed placement on Unrequested Leave of Absence (ULA). Superintendent Al Stoeckman explained that for the past two years, Skjefte’s salary has been covered with monies from the intergenerational funds that the school receives from the state based on YME being identified as a racially isolated district. “Last month we were notified that we are no longer identified as a racially isolated district, and we may lose that funding,” Stoeckman said. Stoeckman made it clear that the action the board was taking was not cutting the ½ counselor’s position now. “We have a legal obligation to notify her that the position may be cut. This action will allow for a timeline to occur to determine if YME will continue to receive the intergenerational funds, if the district will cover the salary from the general fund, or if the counselor duties will be picked up by another certified staff.”
The board approved a child care leave for senior high English teacher Laura Bristle.
Policy Updates
The board approved policy updates in the 700 series– Non-Instructional Operations and Business Services; the 800 series –Building/ Sites; and the 900 series – Community Relations.
Action Items
• The board approved the bills for payment.
• The board approved the revised budget for FY 2011.
• The board approved an early out for seniors. The last day for seniors will be Friday, May 27.
• The board approved a four year lease with Apple, Inc. covering 68 workstations to replace current workstations that are identified by Apple as being phased out of production.
