Eight SAD 1 teachers accept retirement incentive
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Eight SAD 1 teachers have taken the district up on its retirement incentive program, which was offered for the third consecutive year as a way to avoid laying off teachers.
“This measure helps save jobs for teachers and it helps veteran teachers who were considering retirement,” said Superintendent Gehrig Johnson.
At last month’s meeting, directors approved offering a one-time incentive payment of $450 per year for each year of teaching experience provided the teacher submits written notice of retirement effective no later than June 30. The payment will be made in two equal installments with the first being paid in January 2013 and the second in January 2014.
Announcing their retirement are Nancy Donovan, special education teacher at Presque Isle Middle School, who has spent her entire 37-year teaching career in SAD 1; Ellen Helstrom, language arts teacher at PIMS, who has taught for 36 years (all in the district); Alan Curtis, business technology instructor and department chair at the Presque Isle Regional Career and Technical Center, who has taught for 40 years (24 of them in SAD 1); Frances Madore, Presque Isle High School math teacher, who has spent 13 of her 28-year teaching career in SAD 1; Eric Hendrickson, science teacher and science department chair at PIHS, whose 39 years in education have all been spent in SAD 1; Carmen Underwood, first grade teacher at Pine Street Elementary School, who has taught for 28 years (25 of them in the district); Robertine Morrow, grade three at Zippel Elementary School, who has spent 25 of her 37 years in education in the district; and Elaine Hendrickson, English/social studies teacher at PIMS, who has spent 18 of her 34-year teaching career in SAD 1.
Also retiring but not eligible for the incentive package is Carole Doody, third grade teacher at Zippel Elementary School, whose entire 36-year teaching career was spent in SAD 1; Susan Blanchard, speech therapist at Pine Street, 35 years of experience (28 years in the district); and Enola Boyce, pre-K teacher at the SAD 1 Skyway Education Center, who has taught for 30 years (15 in SAD 1).
“This kind of experience will definitely be a loss to the district,” said Johnson, noting that retirees have a combined 380 years of experience in education. “They’ve been part of our school family for decades and we will miss them.”
At the April 11 board meeting, directors also approved the dates for the district budget and district budget validation meetings.
2012-13 district budget approval requires a two-step process. In addition to a district-wide budget meeting, which will be held May 9 at 7 p.m. at the PIHS cafeteria, the district is required to hold a budget validation referendum in each of the district’s five municipalities. The validation referendums will take place May 15.
“The proposed budget will reflect the same budget figure that we worked with this year — $22,960,050 — and the same tax commitment figures that we used this year, as well,” said Johnson.
Three teachers have completed one year of satisfactory teaching in the district and were appointed for the 2012-13 school year. They include George Knox III (social studies) and Bethany Staples (special education) at PIHS and Chelsey Cheney (math/science) at PIMS.
The following teachers have completed two years of satisfactory teaching and were reappointed for the 2012-13 school year to a continuing contract: Rosalie Sullivan (English) at PIHS and Leah Gagnon (special education) at PIMS.
Also at the meeting, directors approved a low bid from the DATTCO Sales & Service for five 77-pasenger buses at $80,449 and one special needs bus at $81,718 for a total bid price of $483,963. Board members also approved the Key Bank low bid for bus financing for a five-year period at 2.35 percent. Acceptance of the two bids is contingent upon budget approval and validation next month.
The next regular SAD 1 meeting will be held May 9 at 6 p.m. at the PIHS board conference room with the district budget meeting to follow at 7 p.m. in the school cafeteria.
