Early retirement requests debated at School Board meeting

In the aftermath of Gov. Scott Walker’s Act 10 legislation, school districts – including Waterford Graded – wrangle with post-employment benefits.

Locally, elected officials continued their discussion of the issue at a recent School Board Personnel and Finance Committee meeting and could have acted a retirement request at a regular School Board meeting held Jan. 23.

Superintendent Chris Joch said one staff members, a teacher from Fox River Middle School, has requested permission to retire at the end of the current school year and be privy to the benefits, which include an annual $8,000 contribution until the federally recognized age of 62 for Social Security kicks in. Existing requirements for the post-retirement benefits include a minimum 20 years of service in the district and a requirement the staff person be at least 55 years old.

If the board approves the middle school teacher’s request it would also affect three elementary school teachers in the district should they request the same consideration. The teachers will be at least 55 years old by the time the request takes effect, but none have been with the district 20 years. Service years range from 13 to 16. One prospect on the table is to offer a pro-rated amount to each employee, based on years of service. For example, the staff person with 13 years could be offered $5,200 annually.

“But I will say this: I think it sets a bad precedent right off the bat,” School Board President and committee member Dan Jensen said. “I don’t think the taxpayers should be on the hook for someone who hasn’t satisfied the minimum number of years.”

Committee members did not turn down the proposal to offer retirement benefits to the employees, but asked for additional information, including a cost-benefit analysis from Joch. For example, Joch said one retirement at Fox River could allow the district to eliminate a position through attrition.

In the greater scheme of post-retiree benefits, Waterford Graded officials are contemplating what it will look like in the years ahead. One thing seems certain – staying status quo likely is not an option because of increased costs and changes at the state level.

“I think we have been fairly clear about the future of benefits – beyond this year, we can’t guarantee anything,” Jensen said.