Buyouts tempting offer for Anderson Community Schools teachers

ANDERSON - When second-grade teacher Carmen Salin retires at the end of the school year, she'll likely get a one-time payment of $25,000 from a school district struggling to cut $5 million from its budget.

According to Anderson Community Schools Superintendent Mikella Lowe, handing out payments of $25,000 will actually save the district money.

Rick Muir, president of the Anderson Federation of Teachers, said at least 15 ACS teachers must retire in order for Salin and her retiring colleagues to get the buyout.

If 15 teachers do not choose to retire, the school administration and AFT will have to go back to the bargaining table, he said.

Salin said the buyout option sweetens a retirement she was already planning to take.

"I'd already made my decision. I had heard that that (the buyout) was a rumor in the fall, but I made my decision. I'm 63, it's time to go," she said.

The extra $25,000 will help in these uncertain economic times, she said. "I'm happy because I've lost so much money from other sources - the recession and the market. I've lost hundreds of dollars in the market."

Though she may be getting a big influx of cash at once, Salin isn't planning to splurge. "I'm going to put it into an account and save it. I'll need it for living expenses."

North Side Middle School math teacher Rod Windlan is also planning to take the buyout. "Thirty-three years is a long time and I think I've reached a point right now where I want to do something else with my life."

"This buyout did help me make that decision. There's no doubt about it," Windlan said.

Windlan is looking forward to retiring at the end of the year. "I'm going to take it easy and be out at the golf course quite a bit."

Since the district needs to cut 25 teaching jobs and is hoping to encourage 15 retirements, only 10 teachers will likely be laid off, Lowe said.

This is a comfort for Windlan. "I'd hope my retirement would save a younger person a job."

Forest Hills first-grade teacher Lucretia Clidence is retiring after 23 years and hopes her decision will help another young teacher. "That makes me feel very good that this is going to open up the door for someone else that they won't get pink-slipped."

So far, two of the teachers have given notice that they are retiring and Muir believes another five will likely follow suit.

Teachers have until March 27 to give notice of retirement and Lowe said preliminary layoff notices for teachers will be announced on April 15.