Traverse City Record-Eagle

Grand Traverse County

March 10, 2010

No more TCAPS layoffs? 24 teachers retiring

Also, seven teachers to resign at end of year

BY LINDSAY VANHULLE

TRAVERSE CITY -- More teachers will leave Traverse City's public schools at the end of this school year than last, which could mean no layoff notices for the district's newest instructors.

Twenty-four teachers plan to retire this summer, up from 12 last year, said Christine Davis, executive director of human resources.

About 25 teachers typically announce retirement each year.

Teachers had until March 1 to decide. Building principals have until Monday.

"The economy of the state, I think ... resulted in some employees holding off last year," Davis said. "We could have another one or two yet this school year or summer."

In addition, seven teachers will resign at the end of the year, including two on leaves of absence, she said. That will create five vacancies.

Three principals plan to retire this year -- Glenn Solowiej, at East Middle School; Sue Zell, at Eastern Elementary; and Patty Olson, at Old Mission Peninsula School -- as do 24 support employees.

The Traverse City Administrators' Association, which represents building principals, has met with central office staff to decide how to reduce $300,000 from administration as part of $6 million in budget cuts.

The fact that three principals are retiring doesn't mean they will absorb the extent of that cut, union President Terry Smith said.

"Those are positions that are going to need to be supported to help those schools function," Smith said.

John Scrudato, president of the Traverse City Education Association, said he doesn't anticipate any teacher layoffs this year.

Eighteen teachers were laid off at the end of last year, along with 20 bus drivers and five transportation aides. Some were reinstated by September.

But Davis said it's too early to make such a call. Schools have yet to complete their individual budgets, and it's still unknown how a board-approved class size increase and expanded all-day, every-day kindergarten will affect the number of teachers each building needs.

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