Cape School Board looks at retirement system, facilities plan

The Cape Girardeau School Board met in a special session Monday to hear presentations on the district facilities plan and the public school and education employee retirement system.

Board members discussed aspects of the evolving facilities plan, which should be complete by the beginning of September.

At their Aug. 24 meeting, the board will vote on whether to request bids for a construction manager.

"I think this would only strengthen our plan," said Neil Glass, director of administrative services.

Glass said a construction manager will help the district oversee the construction and bidding process. It would be an advantage because there could be several projects going on at the same time throughout the district, he said.

District officials have said they would like to approach voters with a no-tax-increase bond issue in April to fund a portion of the projects included in the facilities plan.

Separately, Jeff Russler and Maria Walden of the state retirement system gave a presentation about teachers who work after retirement. They said hiring retired teachers for part-time work does not significantly affect the system, which paid more than $1.6 million in retirement benefits in 2009.

At a special meeting in July, board members discussed putting a cap on wages for part-time teachers. Retired teachers earn an hourly wage based on their experience before they retired but cannot work more than 550 hours per year. The district currently employs 12 part-time teachers who are retired.

abusch@semissourian.com

388-3627

Have a comment?

Log on to semissourian.com

Pertinent address:

301 N. Clark Ave. Cape Girardeau, MO