Tulsa, OK- Early retirement packages are being offered to Tulsa Public Schools employees.
Three meetings were held Tuesday explaining the ins and outs of the plan.
It's part of TPS' goal of shedding millions from the district's budget.
"I don't think I'd retire well just by sitting in the rocking chair," said Steven Smith, who, at 68 years old, doesn't want to completely retire. "This will give me the opportunity to pursue a second career."
But, Smith will retire early from his radio technician job at Tulsa Public Schools.
Other TPS employees who attended Tuesday's meeting say they're not fans of the district's plan to allow eligible employees to retire in February and be paid out their salaries until June.
"I don't think it's a good package," said Barbara Tottres, who's worked for TPS' Maintenance Dept. for 28 years.
One reason employees like Tottres say they're not enthusiastic about the plan- health insurance.
"No. they're not providing us with that benefit," she said. "They're just giving you a little incentive. Very small incentive, actually."
In addition to offering administrators and support staff the early retirement option, TPS also plans to offer teachers of retirement age a $5,000 stipend. The only difference with this plan, teachers would actually have to work until June.
Both of these proposals, in combination with other cost-saving actions taken as part of Dr. Keith Ballard's restructuring plan for the district, according to Bill Naftzger with TPS' Human Capital Department, are expected to save the district $5 million.
But, the teacher's union says all this budgetary trouble the district is in, is costing teachers their patience.
"Teachers are just like everybody else, they're worried," said Denzel Kesterson, President of the Tulsa Classroom Teacher's Association. "All this generally rolls down to a teacher somewhere or another. Either they have more students in class or the students they have are worried themselves."
The early retirement package is up for board approval Thursday night. Other items on the agenda: modifications to staff salaries including a proposal to give principals raises and that bond issue in the amount of more than $300 million.
