Early retirement at Chino Valley school district could save jobs
Author: Neil Nisperos , Staff Writer
CHINO - As part of cost-cutting measures at the Chino Valley Unified School District, officials have unveiled a plan to provide early retirement incentives to classified and management employees, in addition to teachers.
Gail Beal, senior vice president of the Torrance-based financial services firm of Keenan & Associates, presented a report to board members on Thursday regarding the potential savings that could be achieved with early retirement.
According to the report, a total of 743 district employees are eligible for early retirement. With the assumption that 64 of those eligible may retire because of natural attrition, and 163 of those eligible may choose to participate in the program, the district could see a potential savings of $524,075.
The board notified the eligible employees on Friday. The district is expected to hold orientation meetings with employees in March, prepare a final cost and savings analysis in April, and the board is expected to consider approving the program on May 5.
Last year, early retirement offered to district teachers saved about $153,000 by replacing 160 senior teachers with less-experienced, lower-paid teachers.
"I would hope that we would see the same kind of result this year if the retirement incentive is offered and teachers choose to take it," said Justine Cunningham, president of the Associated Chino Teachers union. "That would allow some of our (laid-off) teachers to come back."
The school board last week approved temporary layoff notices for about 95 teachers as well as an elementary assistant principal, a special education coordinator and a program specialist. Reduction in force - or temporary layoff notices - must be sent out by March 15 to teachers.
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