65 Youngstown teachers take district’s deal

They are part of next year’s staff reduction target of 153.

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — A total of 65 city school teachers are taking advantage of a school board resignation/retirement incentive designed to reduce the number of district employees next year, and more reductions are anticipated.

Of that number, 41 are veteran teachers eligible for retirement under the State Teachers Retirement System. The other 24 are primarily young teachers who might have been in danger of being laid off as the district cuts back its staff.

They chose to take the incentive package and search for jobs elsewhere.

The 65 are part of a proposed total teacher reduction of 75 from the current staff of 745 teachers, but not all 65 spots will remain vacant, said Dr. Wendy Webb, superintendent.

Four or five of those positions will have to be filled, she said, explaining the need for teachers in certain subjects. The others will be left vacant, and the district may still be looking at furloughing about 15 teachers to get to the 75 mark, Webb said.

“These are not my reductions,” she said, explaining that the state Financial Planning and Supervision Commission, which is overseeing district finances in light of Youngstown being placed in fiscal emergency by the state, has set the approximate number of employees to be cut.

Youngstown ran a $15 million general fund deficit this year.

Concern about the cuts’ impact

For the most part, the oversight commission has attempted to work with the district to protect the academic programs in light of the need to cut spending, Webb said.

Still, Webb expressed some concern about the impact the cuts could have on the district’s academic programs.

Some of the retirees are “good, good, good teachers” and some of the young people are excellent as well, she said.

The teacher cuts are among 153 total staff reductions targeted for next year, reductions that should save Youngstown about $8.5 million in salary and benefit costs, school officials said.

The fiscal oversight commission was expected to approve the categorical list of reductions and the incentive plan today.

The reductions follow the elimination of nearly 100 jobs (including 56 teachers and 22 administrators) this year.

The school district offered a $30,000 financial package for teachers eligible to retire this year, spreading the cost over a three-year period, putting $7,500 each year into a heath reimbursement fund for each retiree and $7,500 into an annuity for each retiree in the third year.

Those who just resigned will get a $7,500 immediate cash payment only.

William Bagnola, president of the teachers union, said he wasn’t surprised at the number of teachers taking advantage of the incentive offering. He had actually expected the number to be higher.

gwin@vindy.com