Hewlett-Woodmere offers retirement incentive to cut costs

Directors, principals, assistant principals, chairpersons, guidance counselors, psychologists and social workers with at least 10 years in the Hewlett-Woodmere School District were offered 40 percent of their final year’s salary if they retire at the end of the 2011-’12 or 2012-’13 school years.

According to Superintendent Dr. Joyce Bisso, the retirement incentive allows the district additional time for long-range planning. In a letter issued to Hewlett-Woodmere residents, Bisso wrote, “These are challenging times for school districts, as New York State continues to increase unfunded mandates at the same time that the new tax levy cap will limit resources. Multi-year planning is essential, not only to the budget development but also to the sustainability of our schools.”

The tax cap, Bisso mentioned, was instituted by Gov. Andrew Cuomo and refers to a 2 percent tax cap limit that doesn’t restrict any proposed tax levy increase to 2 percent, but establishes a tax levy limit, which is determined by the district according to a formula prescribed by law.

Dr. Peter Weber, assistant superintendent for Business, was unable to determine exactly how much the district will save by offering the retirement incentive. “If we assume that every position will be replaced at the same level then savings will be measured based upon the actual costs of the replacements,” he said. “When there is a prospective vacancy, we carefully explore options and alternatives. This is particularly true in a time of shrinking resources.”

As of Jan. 18, Ogden Elementary Principal Joan Birringer-Haig, Hewlett Elementary Social Worker Ellen Feldman and Hewlett High School Assistant Principal Eileen Mahoney will be retiring in June 30 and District Chairperson for Art Jessica Bayer, Woodmere Middle School Principal Richard Berkowitz, Franklin Early Childhood Center Principal Bonnie Epstein, Hewlett Elementary Principal Sandra Pensak and Franklin Early Childhood Center Assistant Principal Estelle Shafran will retire in June 30, 2013. Administrators who were offered the retirement incentive have until Feb. 27 to inform the district of their plans.