SCHOOL BOARD REVIEWS PLAN ON RETIREMENT

Cape Girardeau public school teachers have a one-time chance this year for financial incentives to retire early.

The Cape Girardeau Board of Education approved the plan, which offers eligible teachers and administrators $20,000 or $25,000 in bonuses if they decide to retire at the end of this year.

Teachers choosing the retirement incentive must notify Superintendent Neyland Clark before April 1.

Retiring teachers who hold a bachelors degree will receive $20,000 and those with a masters degree qualify for $25,000.

District officials say about 36 certified staff persons qualify for the retirement incentive program.

Jo Peukert, president of the Cape Girardeau Community Teachers Association, said the package is attractive to teachers who may be considering retirement and has an added bonus for other teachers.

The school district is in the process of cutting $1.4 million from its budget. Those cuts will include elimination of some teaching positions.

Peukert explained that if some teachers retire, other teachers may keep their jobs.

"It's too early to predict how many people will participate," she said. "But studies show that 20 to 40 percent of those eligible will take advantage of the program."

However, she said, teachers have just 60 days to decide. "For people looking retirement and planning the rest of their lives, 60 days is not a real long time and this is a one-time offer."

Clark said, "This came out of salary discussions last year. Teachers said they want this.

"What this has the potential of doing, with the current budgetary reductions going on, is minimizing if not eliminating a major personnel reduction.

"We could minimize the pain of reductions and offer something more positive," he said.

The incentive money can be paid in two ways over five years, with equal quarterly payments, or over 18 months in three installments.

The plan also includes a health- care-insurance option for those employees who would want to continue with the district's group plan.

Individuals are eligible if they have completed 30 years of creditable service with the Missouri Retirement System, with the last 10 years of service in Cape Girardeau public schools; or have completed 25 years or more of creditable service with the Missouri Retirement System and be at least 55 years of age, with the last 10 years of service with the Cape Girardeau public schools; or are eligible for full retirement with the Missouri Retirement System at age 60, with a minimum of 10 years service, which must include the last 10 years with Cape Girardeau public schools.

These requirements also qualify individuals for normal retirement benefits through the Public School Retirement System.

Clark said the package has been approved by district's legal counsel and by the teachers association executive committee and general membership.

"It passed those stages with resounding support," he said.

"I think this is a really excellent plan, a real opportunity for a number of teachers in our district," said Board President Pat Ruopp.

He added, "If we get enough people to participate, we have the potential of saving the district a lot of money."

Money will be saved because the district does not intend to replace most of the teachers who would choose to retire. For those positions which would need to be filled, a person at a lower salary could likely be hired.

The board also approved the 1992-93 school calendar. The first day of school will be Aug. 27 and the last day of school will be June 2.

In an interview, Clark said the calendar does not include a "fair day." In the past, students have been dismissed from school to give them a chance to attend the Southeast Missouri District Fair. Cape Girardeau is the last district to abandon this policy.

The calendar also includes one "built-in" snow day. Additional make-up days for days missed because of bad weather will be June 3 at the end of the school year, and April 8 and April 12 during the scheduled spring break.

Clark said designating make-up days marks a change. "This way people know in advance which days are make-up days and can plan accordingly," he said.

The school year includes 179 days. "It is becoming more and more difficult getting the number of instructional days in the calendar," he said.