It’s Finals Day for 99 in Newport-Mesa

Responding to an early retirement offer, nearly 100 Newport-Mesa Unified School District teachers, representing thousands of years of teaching experience, will tender their resignations today.

Citing the need to begin recruiting teachers for next year and the hope of significant savings, district officials offered the oldest and most experienced instructors $500 a month for five years and a percentage of their salaries to relinquish their posts by April. Most are expected to finish the term as emeritus instructors.

The offer was extended only to teachers who are at least 55 years old or have more than 30 years of teaching experience.

A total of 49 high school teachers, 39 elementary school teachers and 11 administrators accepted the retirement package. The highest-ranking official in the district who will be leaving is Tom Jacobson, an assistant superintendent in charge of secondary education. Also leaving are three elementary school principals and both assistant principals at Estancia High School.

“It is a really good deal for the teachers who are leaving,” said Linda Mook, president of Newport-Mesa’s teachers union. She also was hopeful that the move would “free up money for raises.”

By Mook’s calculations, the district will save $2.5 million over the next five years by offering the early retirement. Mike Fine, the district’s chief financial officer, said he does yet know how much money the district might save.

On average, teachers just out of school with bachelor’s degrees receive about $30,000 per year in the district. Teachers with at least 60 units of additional college work average about $45,000.

Fine emphasized the retirement incentives were created so that Newport-Mesa can begin hiring teachers for next fall immediately. Statewide class size reduction has made the competition to hire new, qualified teachers more competitive than in past years, and by starting months ahead of other districts, officials hope they can get commitments from the most qualified applicants.

Even with 7% pay raises last year, Newport-Mesa’s teachers earn among the lowest salaries in Orange County, which has made recruiting the best teachers difficult for them.

At schools across Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, the news of the mass retirement was met with mixed feelings.

“At first it was a little sad, because a lot of these teachers who are retiring were my children’s teachers,” trustee Dana Black said. “But I think it will be good for them and good for the district.”

Mariners Elementary School Principal Tammy Parham said the list of those retiring includes some of the most well-known and well-loved teachers in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, who will be “greatly missed by the community.”