The Perry Community School District Board of Directors voted unanimously Monday to approve 20 applications for early retirement filed by district employees. The move will save the cash-strapped school system nearly $600,000 next year, according to PCSD Superintendent Clark Wicks.
The names of the PCSD early retirees and their lengths of service are shown in the following list:
- Rhonda Kanealy, 31 years
- April Balletine, 26 years
- Gary Overla, 26 years
- Robert Hidlebaugh, 25.5 years
- Lori Meinecke, 25 years
- Cynthia Miner, 25 years
- Lori Enderson, 24 years
- Mary Hillman, 24 years
- Sherre Edmondson, 22.5 years
- Joyce Hegstrom, 22 years
- Susan Cole, 21 years
- Carla Wood, 20 years
- Sidney Meier, 18 years
- Karen Sackett. 17 years
- Elizabeth Marburger, 17 years
- Cynthia Burkett, 16 years
- Kent Bultman, 13 years
- Nancy Abbott, 12 years
- Kathy Pantzar, 12 years
- Ralph Walker, 12 years
In other business, the school board postponed until its Jan. 13 meeting a vote to approve the purchase of a new school bus. The postponement was opposed by board member Max Christensen, whose day job is state director of pupil transportation for the Iowa Department of Education.
In other words, Christensen is the school board’s one bona fide expert in public school transportation issues, but his recommendation was rejected by Perry School Board President Linda Andorf, Vice President Travis Landgrebe and Directors Eddie Diaz and Joe Tuhn, who hope to find a way to ease the pressure on the district budget.
The school board also received an update from Wicks on plans for the one-year commemoration of the Jan. 4 shooting at Perry High School. Plans include winter-break activities for students as well as resources for teachers, staff and parents. The Perry Ministerial Association will hold a community service of hope and healing on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 1 p.m. at the former Ben Franklin building at 1221 Second St. in downtown Perry.
Thank you, Gov. “whatever you need” Reynolds. At least the charter schools won’t go without.