School board to consider early retirement request from 2007

The Jamestown Public School Board heard from Doug Benson, a former guidance counselor who retired in 2007 but did not receive early retirement funds he had requested at its regular meeting Monday.

Early retirement is a lump sum the district gives educators who retire early. The district makes up the money by hiring a newer teacher at a lower salary. The educator who chooses to retire early doesn’t lose the financial benefits of full retirement.

At the Jan. 19 School Board meeting, the board approved early retirement in the amount of about $30,000 for a teacher at the Child and Adolescent Unit at the North Dakota State Hospital.

The funds, which were unbudgeted, came out of the Child and Adolescent Unit’s budget which is managed by Jamestown Public Schools. Because the board approved that unbudgeted early retirement, Benson asked the board review his early retirement request from 2007.

“Based on the fact the Board voted to approve an unbudgeted expenditure of over $30,000 for Early Retirement this year, out of the CASS (sic) account which they oversee, I am requesting that the board review and approve my 2007 request for early retirement,” Benson wrote in a letter to the board.

Board members will discuss the request at its next regular meeting.

Look for more information in Tuesday’s Sun.

Tags: jamestown public school board, early retirement, bob toso, news, meeting