The Greene County board of education at its Feb. 18 meeting approved early retirement requests from staff members with a total of 258 years of service to the districts that comprise the new Greene County district.
Resolutions of thanks were entered into the minutes for teachers and associates as follows:
- Dave Bohnet, 26 years teaching social studies and English language arts for Jefferson, Jefferson-Scranton and Greene County
- Eric Ernst, 28 years as an elementary teacher for Scranton, J-S, and Greene County
- Michele Hardin, 33 years as a middle school and elementary Title I teacher for Jefferson, J-S and Greene County
- Janice Johnston, 28 years as an elementary teacher for East Greene and Greene County
- Diane Kunzler, 27 years as an art teacher for Scranton, Jefferson and Greene County
- Sherri Schwaller, 28 years as a third grade and kindergarten teacher for Jefferson, J-S and Greene County
- Cathy Springer, 19 years as a teacher associate at the elementary and alternative school for J-S and Greene County
- Gerry Stein, 29 years as a science teacher for Jefferson, J-S and Greene County
- Judy Turner, 14 years as an associate, most recently in the high school media center, for J-S and Greene County
- Jane Wampler, 26 years as an associate in Title I and special education for Jefferson, J-S and Greene County.
The board last December set $200,000 as the cap on incentives for early retirement, with the board paying each retiree 45 percent of their annual contracted salary. The total for the employees applying for early retirement is $211,703. The board on Wednesday agreed to pay the higher amount.
According to superintendent Tim Christensen, early retirement is a financial tool for the district. The incentive is paid from the management fund, realizing a savings in the general fund. Total salaries for those retiring is $437,019.
Additionally, the board accepted the resignation of high school band director Becky Greiner. A resolution thanking her for 26 years of service to the Jefferson, J-S and Greene County districts. Greiner does not meet the age requirement for the early retirement incentive.
