The Pea Ridge School District Board of Education discussed the possibility of offering a voluntary early retirement incentive plan at its meeting Monday night.
Superintendent Rick Neal told the board the program can benefit employees who want to retire but cannot yet because of health insurance costs. He said a couple of school districts in the area have tried the program, and it can result in significant personnel cost savings if employees take advantage of it.
Assistant superintendent Keith Martin said employees have to meet requirements for early or full retirement under the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System and must have worked at Pea Ridge in a licensed position for nine consecutive years. He said employees who take advantage of the program would receive an $8,000 yearly stipend for three years to bridge the gap between their employee health insurance and Medicare.
Also Monday night, Martin gave the board an update on an after-school program that is in the works. Pea Ridge is partnering with the Rogers Activity Center, a nonprofit organization, to provide an after-school program on the school grounds. Martin said 15 students are signed up so far, and a total of 80 are needed in order for RAC to participate. The school district will provide the space, and RAC will provide employees and the program, he said. He added a lot of children are going home to empty homes. The program would go to 6:30 p.m. and students would receive a snack, have time to do their homework, and have craft time and social time, he said. DHS vouchers for after-school care would also be accepted.
"For years people have been asking for an after-school program. This is our chance," he said.
Several student transfers were approved. Neal said the student population has reached 2,000, and he expects an influx of new students after Christmas. The student-to-teacher ratio has reached capacity, and if there is another influx of students, staffing will have to be addressed, he said.
The board also voted to hire a special education teacher, Melissa Woods. Special Education director Sue Stacey said the position was already in the budget.
General News on 12/16/2015