SCC debates retirement plan options

Talk about it

At Monday night’s regular meeting, the St. Croix Central School Board discussed alternative retirement programs for district employees.

School Board President Howard Kruschke reminded the board that the existing retirement plan was suspended last year in light of proposed funding changes. Kruschke said the board’s intention is to arrive at a retirement plan that offers the best possible solution for retiring employees and the district.

Keeping the suspended retirement plan in place for another year or two was an option discussed by the board.

According to the Local Retirement Proposal (Revised) handed out at the meeting, the 2010-11 plan included a district benefit of 75 percent of the health insurance premium plus deductible. The alternate plan favored thus far by the board maintains the same basic formula with a 2 percent increase each year for six years.

Kruschke and board members John Hueg and Jeff Redmon favored the alternate plan. The board plans to discuss this issue further at the next board learning meeting before making any decisions.

In other business:

- Athletic Director Nic Been reported on the winter sports season. Been told the board that the number of participants for winter sports was very strong.

- District Superintendent David Bradley told the board that now is an excellent time to refinance district bonds and doing so could save the district as much as $900,000. Bradley said it would not bring additional revenue to the district but would allow them to pay down its capital debt faster. He said he hopes to hear good news on the district’s bond rating by the end of the week.

- Food for Kids Backpack program begins Friday with 13 families (32 children) enrolled. This program provides participating students with food items to take home for the weekend.

- The board approved resignations of Gina Sackett, bus driver, and Shannon Donnelly, middle school special education teacher. They also approved appointment of Laura Lee from half-time shared teacher to full-time teacher and Kevin Doyle as C-Team varsity assistant baseball coach. Pat Hook was approved as assistant middle school track and field coach for 2011-12 and Laura Fern’s contract changed from full time to approximately half-time job share of fifth grade with Kerrie Been for 2012-13.

- Bradley presented a program for teachers to take certain classes so they may move across the salary schedule even if the classes are not taken for credit. He also outlined a professional learning community book study which will be required for all teachers. The district will provide the books and completion of the study will equal earning one credit toward lane advancement on the salary schedule.

Tags: st croix central, communities, education, hammond, roberts