In order to close a $1.4 million budget deficit, the Williamsville Central School District offered an early retirement incentive that 40 teachers accepted.
The incentive was negotiated between the district and the Williamsville Teachers Association and offered teachers $30,000 for early retirement. 40 teachers accepted the incentive and the move saved the district $1.4 million in salary expenses.
Not all those positions will be filled since one of the goals of early retirement incentives is to reduce staff without laying any employees off. The district says about 10 of the positions will not be filled.
"We have seen a slight decline in some areas of the district that we will not fill," Superintendent Dr. Scott Martzloff of Williamsville Central Schools said. "I would say it's about 10 positions district-wide. But even for the other 30 or so positions, we are looking at a significant salary savings between a veteran teacher and a new teacher."
Dr. Martzloff said parents and students in the district don't have to worry about any classes or programs being cut enitrely.
"No they'll still be offered," he said. "But instead of offering three classes of a specific art class at the high school level we might only be offering two at a specific school. Because of the number of students who are enrolled or asking to be enrolled in that type of a course."
For the first time in several years, the district's enrollment is projected to dip below 10,000.
