22 retire from school with 739 years of service

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Each year, administrators at Alexandria School District 206 receive letters from teachers and other staff members who wish to retire.

In the last five school years, there were 77 retirees, which isn’t all that unusual. Of those 77, 38 were under teacher contracts. Again, not that unusual.

This year, however, is different. In just one school year – so far – the district has received more than 20 retirement letters; 18 of those have been teachers.

At Monday night’s regular meeting, board members approved retirement agreements for a total of 22 personnel – 18 of whom were under a teacher’s contract with the district.

The school board and district administration, along with the leadership of Education Minnesota Alexandria, agreed upon a retirement incentive plan for teaching staff.

The plan was approved at Monday night’s meeting.

It affects teaching staff who would be eligible for retirement effective the end of the 2009-2010 school year. The retirement incentive is $10,000, and is paid out to each of the eligible retirees over two fiscal years.

By contract, teachers are required to notify the district in February of each year if they intend to retire.

More than 30 teaching staff were eligible this year for the plan either by meeting age requirements or by a combination of age and teaching years combined, which is the Rule of 90.

Through a memorandum of understanding, 18 teachers submitted written notification to the district of their intent to retire.

However, there have been a total of 24 people, including teachers and other staff members, whose retirements are effective during the 2009-2010 school year, and the district could receive more.

For the 22 retirements approved during Monday night’s meeting, the retirees have a total combined years of service of 739 years.

“We are extremely grateful for their dedication and service to District 206 students and families,” said District 206 Superintendent Terry Quist.

Quist also noted that the retirements are timely considering the district is in the beginning stages of planning for the 2010-2011 school year – and currently projecting a budget shortfall of $1.5 million.

He said that through the budget planning process, each position will be looked at carefully to determine which positions will be refilled.

“It is anticipated that the plan could save the district money in the long run since positions that are replaced will presumably be filled by teachers making less money, creating the savings,” said Quist.

Nearly all of the newest retirees have been with the district for more than 20 years and almost all of them listed their last date of employment as June 10 of this year.

The retirees and their years of service include:

•Judy Woodle, administrative assistant/payroll – 43.

•Rose Lesner, health assistant – 26.

•Margaret Atwood, orchestra teacher – 35.

•Ann Branch, family and consumer science teacher – 37.

•Linda Capistrant, English teacher – 23.

•Don Clausen, technology integration coordinator – 27.

•Gail Feriancek, special education teacher – 35.

•Scott Fodness, English teacher – 37.

•LuAnn Gesell, elementary teacher – 38.

•Rebecca Gilbertson, elementary teacher – 33.

•Keith Hoeschen, science teacher – 30.

•Kevin Howie, media specialist – 31.

•Bruce Johnson, special education teacher – 30.

•Roger Johnson, physical education/health teacher – 32.

•Susan Johnson, elementary teacher – 25.

•Pat McCarty, English teacher – 40.

•Debra Odland, elementary teacher – 34.

•Kathleen Schultz, elementary teacher – 35.

•Carole Westby, school nurse – 36.

•Jane Wicklander, media specialist – 32.

Another retiree during the 2009-1010 school year whose retirement was approved last December, was Patricia Vickerman, an elementary teacher. She worked 30 years in District 206.

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