Extra pay for ex-school leaders targeted

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Retired public school superintendents would have to stay retired under a provision of an education bill the Missouri Legislature approved last month.

The provision aims to end so-called "double-dipping" by retired school administrators who come back to work such roles at full salary while simultaneously drawing retirement pay.

The restriction is part of a larger bill to overhaul Missouri's system for distributing state money to local school districts. State Rep. Shannon Cooper, who sponsored the amendment to the bill, said a superintendent should either work or enjoy retirement but not try to do both.

"There is no need to pay them to be retired while they're working and keeping other people from holding those jobs," said Cooper, R-Clinton.

Cooper said the amendment wasn't prompted by any particular allegation of abuse. However, he said some teachers and administrators complained to him that the practice is unprofessional.

Missouri Association of School Superintendents executive director Gary Sharpe said there are certain rare instances when it is appropriate for a district to bring an administrator out of retirement to fill a vacancy, as existing law allows.

"It was intended to help districts for stop-gap periods of time when they are really having trouble finding qualified employees," Sharpe said.

Sharpe said he is aware of only a handful of instances in which retired superintendents have returned to work full time as administrators. The superintendents association neither supported Cooper's amendment nor worked actively against it, Sharpe said.

Under a law enacted in 2003, retired administrators, teachers and other school employees may return to work full time for up to two years with no loss of pension benefits if a district is unable to find qualified candidates among the active work force. Cooper's amendment wouldn't restrict teachers or other school staff from coming out of retirement. A retired superintendent would be able to return as a classroom teacher and still receive both salary and retirement pay, Cooper said.

In smaller districts where it can be difficult to attract qualified applicants, Sharpe said, allowing districts to call on retirees can be vital to ensuring that key positions are filled. The superintendents association has worked to educate its members that the hiring of pensioners is limited to certain situations, Sharpe said.

Cooper said a district could ask the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for a waiver in hardship cases where a retired superintendent is the only person able and willing to fill a vacant administrative post.

Gov. Matt Blunt has said he will sign the overall bill into law but hasn't yet done so.

The bill is SB 287.

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