Early release for proposal

Oops.
Jay Schools officials apologized Monday night that a proposal to extend an early retirement incentive to non-certified personnel and administrators had been circulated prematurely via e-mail.
“It was a mistake,” Superintendent Tim Long said.
“It was still a work in progress. We’re still working on that. Hopefully we’ll have something completed by the next board meeting.”
Board president Greg Wellman echoed Long’s apology for the confusion.
Long later appointed a committee including business manager Brad DeRome and board members Beth Krieg, Mike Shannon, and Jim Sanders to review the draft proposal and finalize details.
The board had previously created a $15,000 early retirement incentive for up to 30 teachers.
A total of 22 teachers opted to take the incentive, leaving potentially eight slots available for administrators and support staff.
“There were several things that were not nailed down,” Long said of the draft that had been circulated. “We’ll make sure it’s a fair process.”
Nine more teacher retirements effective at the end of the school year were formally accepted by the board Monday.
Those retirements include preschool coordinator Theresa Linn, music teacher Sharon Newman, second grade teacher Martha Nill, special education teacher June Schmit, English teacher Dolphus Stephens, visually impaired teacher Nancy Jenkins, building trades teacher Tom Weaver, physical education and health teacher David Bergman, and assistant athletic director and mathmatics teacher Bev Arnold.
Others whose retirements had already been accepted over the past few months include Michael Mertz, Sharon Bubp, Kay LeMaster, Stephen Sommerfield, Cheryl Namovich, Leslie Newton, Crystal Laux, Donna Haffner, Patti Michael, Dennis Dwiggins, Joe Mahnensmith, Nila Blankenbaker, and Diana Keesling.
“I want to recognize (the 22 retiring teachers) and say thank you,” said board member Mike Masters. “There are some really special people on this list.”
Those opting for early retirement had to have at least six years of experience with Jay Schools and must meet the teachers’ retirement fund “rule of 85.” That means age plus years of experience must total at least 85.
By having senior teachers retire, the school corporation expects its personnel costs to drop, since new teachers are paid less. In addition, teachers hired after July 1, 2011 will have more limited choices in terms of health insurance.
In other business, the board:
•Heard DeRome report that preliminary revenue reports from the state indicate Jay Schools will receive 1.4 percent more in funding in 2012 and 3 percent more in 2013.
•Hired James Feldheiser as a math teacher at Jay County High School, Ryan Wellman as an information technology network support analyst, Clifton DeRome as preschool coordinator, and Kyle Love as a middle school industrial technology and robotics teacher.
•Adopted three new goals — investigating the addition of another agriculture teacher, installing a robo-call system for emergencies, and investigating the possibility of using geo-thermal heat at West Jay Middle School.
•Reappointed Duane Sautbine and Holly Weaver to second terms on the Jay County Public Library Board.
•Adopted science and health textbooks as recommended by committees made up of teachers and parents.
•Approved revisions to the JCHS student handbook.
•Adopted the library curriculum as revised.
•Appointed Shelly May as the corporation’s contact person with the Public Employees Retirement Fund.
•Accepted donations from Miller’s Merry Manor and the building trades program.
•Authorized leaves of absence for fourth grade teacher Kelly Brandenburg, third grade teacher Cindy Grile, kindergarten teacher Kristin Westgerdes, bus driver Mary Jutte, and alternative placement supervisor Priscilla McFarland.
•Accepted the resignations of English teacher Joel Freehill, technology instructional assistant Michelle Hersberger, custodian Michael McGraw, and instructional assistant Jill Wells.
•Approved extracurricular assignments for Christine Krieg as freshman academy coordinator, Joshua Swift as volunteer boys’ track coach, Josh Shatto as volunteer assistant baseball coach, Kerri George as girls’ assistant track coach, and Joshua Stultz as volunteer assistant track coach.
•Approved bus requests from Zion Early Learning Center and the Jay County Tourism and Visitors Bureau.
•Approved field trips by eighth grade students to Washington, D.C., archery teams to Louisville, Ky., and foreign language clubs to Cedar Point.[[In-content Ad]]