The Greene County School Board recently approved the district’s voluntary early retirement policy.

The policy will be used for the current school year for those employees looking to retire early in the district. Employees must be at least 55 years-old by July 1, 2016 and have worked in the district for ten years to qualify. Employees will receive 45 percent of their contracted salaries in two payments in the same calendar year. Last year, seven teachers and three associates took early retirement.

Superintendent Tim Christensen says the district can also benefit from any teachers that take advantage of early retirement.

“Opportunities are to either not replace a particular employee, which then becomes a total savings to the general fund, or replace a veteran teacher with a first or second year teacher at a lower cost, that can actually realize some savings there too.”

Payment for early retirements is from the district’s management fund with a cap of $200,000. Christensen adds that the board has the ability to go over the cap if needed. The deadline to apply is by January 13th.