McCook Daily Gazette: Local News: Ten McCook teachers to accept buyouts (03/05/10)

Ten McCook Public Schools teachers have accepted one-time early retirement incentives, and their resignations will be discussed at the March board of education meeting Monday.

The meeting, in the junior high conference room, begins at 6 p.m.

The school district's "Temporary Separation Incentive Policy" program is designed to save personnel costs, replacing a higher-earning long-time teacher/administrator with a younger candidate hired at a lower salary. The incentive program is in anticipation of a possible half-a-million-dollar shortfall in state aid.

Thirty teachers were eligible for participation in the TSIP early retirement program offered to teachers/administrators who are at least 55 years old on or before Aug. 15, 2010, with at least six years of continuous service to McCook Public Schools.

Teachers who have accepted the early retirement program are: Linda Crandall, journalism, senior high; Sandra Weigel, vocal music, senior high; Ron Barger, automotive technology, senior high; Dennis Kennelly, Spanish, senior high; Evie Caldwell, vocal music, Central Elementary; Janet Applegarth and Diana Robinson, elementary teachers, McCook Elementary; Kay Neuhaus, elementary teacher, Central Elementary; Charlie Coleman, vocal music, McCook Elementary; and Theresa Shiers, Title I.

Teacher buyout resignations will also be discussed during closed session.

Other resignations to be addressed during "New Business" are Matt Owens, industrial technology; Bev Hoyt, Central Elementary English and writing; and Elizabeth Yilk, resource teacher, McCook Elementary.

The agenda will also include a presentation by TeamMates and the adoption of the TeamMates program; approval of the 2010-11 school year; approval of new and revised Nebraska mathematics standards; and acceptance of an $800 donation to McCook Elementary from McDonald's Restaurant.

It will be hard for the schools to replace some of these teachers. (Note I said 'some') That list includes some highly respected educators who have contributed to the community in a huge way! Mr. Coleman is going to be hard to replace, for example, but I saw at least 1 name who was just there for the paycheck over the past few years.

On the up-side, this will open up an opportunity for some new, fresh faces to come to the district!

Sometimes 'change' isn't a bad thing...

-- Posted by Justin Case on Fri, Mar 5, 2010, at 12:34 PM

Just a note, I noticed that all the vocal music teachers are taking this offer. Will the vocal music be dropped?

-- Posted by bawilcox on Fri, Mar 5, 2010, at 2:26 PM

While the school may want to drop the Vocal Music, I doubt they will. The reason being is there's a lot of kids in the choirs that need a place to be. With the limited seats available in other classes, They really can't drop music.

-- Posted by npwinder on Sun, Mar 7, 2010, at 11:40 PM