In an attempt to avoid layoffs, the city school district is offering $3,000 incentives to help persuade some employees to retire.
The district is offering the bonuses to full-time classified employees, a category that includes clerical staff, custodians and teacher assistants. To participate in the program, employees must already be eligible for retirement, submit paperwork by the end of the month and retire by Oct. 1.
“We are trying to do this as an incentive so we can get people who can retire to retire and save other people’s jobs,” Superintendent Allen Johnson said.
At least one person has agreed to take the buyout and others have expressed interest, officials said.
Proposed cuts in funding to teacher assistants and other classified staff may require the district to eliminate 18.5 such positions. Officials hope the buyouts will cover some of the lost positions and prevent or limit layoffs.
“We are hopeful people won’t lose their jobs,” said Bob McGrattan, director of human resources for the district. “I do know there are some people considering that retirement.”
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