SIMI VALLEY : 31 Teachers Accept Buyout Package

At least 31 Simi Valley teachers will accept a voluntary buyout under an early retirement package being offered by school officials to reduce the number of teachers at the top of the pay scale, officials said.

The Simi Educators Assn., the union representing the district’s 640 teachers, approved terms of the buyout plan Wednesday after a long discussion on the matter, union spokeswoman Peggie Noisette said. The buyout will be offered only once.

Under the agreement, teachers age 55 to 59 with 10 years of service with the district can retire with full medical coverage until age 65. Teachers over age 55 with 20 or more years with the district can receive medical coverage to 65 or a $25,000 cash payment in three annual installments.

“We’re going to be losing some wisdom, some experience, but the other side of it is, you want to make room for enthusiastic young people,” Noisette said.

The board of the Simi Valley Unified School District has cut 24 teaching positions from next year’s budget to help trim a $2.5-million deficit in the $77.1-million spending plan.

Because enough teachers took the buyout, the district will not be forced to lay off permanent teachers to achieve the board’s mandate for fewer teachers next year, Assistant Supt. Leon Mattingley said.

“We don’t have to issue any letters telling teachers they don’t have jobs next year,” Mattingley said. “We were very happy the association ratified it.”

The buyout will cost the district $300,000 over three years, Mattingley said. No estimate was available on how much money will be saved, he said. The departing teachers all made more than $50,000 per year. Less experienced replacements would start off making $34,000 or less annually, he said.