The Audubon Community School District’s Board of Education, Monday night, spent a considerable amount of time discussing the possibility of offering Early Retirement for the current school year. Superintendent, Dr. Brett Gibbs, said they talked about what that package could look like. He said they’ve offered Early Retirement in the past, but the past year was the exception, because of declining enrollment and the uncertainty of State funding, Gibbs is recommending the District offer the option to its current staff, but it would not become effective until July 1, 2017.

Gibbs said they discussed how many years a person would have to have served in the District in order to qualify. The Board will determine what type of package they would like to offer and act on approving, it during their meeting in December.

He says “Sadly, we need some people to take early retirement due to help our financial situation with declining enrollment…and the lack of State aid.” He says if personnel take the option, assuming it’s offered, it would clear up some space in the District’s General Fund. Gibbs didn’t want to say right now how many people might be interested in taking the option, since it hasn’t officially been offered. He said there are some who he thinks would take Early Retirement if it’s offered, but he has not officially solicited any responses so as to not get anyone’s hopes up.

In the past, a person had to have served the District for 15 or more years. Currently about a dozen employees would meet the requirements, and who are at least 55-years old. Dr. Gibbs said also, they talked about, but did not take action on, their Drop Out Prevention/At Risk program, which needs to be completed by Dec. 15^th and submitted to the State. He says since it just came online yesterday (Monday), they didn’t have time to get the forms filled out detailing how they use those funds and what types of services are provided to students through the use of the funds.

He said also the District’s Principals submitted a report to the Board on the “Smarter Balance Testing” for students, that’s scheduled to start next year in Iowa. The subject was discussed at last week’s IASB Convention.