School District Lost 37 Teachers, With 35 Retiring

In February, officials predicted that by the school year's end, 35 to 45 teachers would be retiring. And the district's subsequently approved budget was based in part on savings of about $1.4 million as a result of those retirements and the hiring of replacements at lower salaries.

In the end, 35 teachers retired and two resigned, Director of Human Resources Bob Cardillo said this week.

As for the exact savings, it is too soon to tell, according to Director of Business Operations Jack Myers.

“The savings is also derived from the fact that in any given year there are some interim (long-term substitute) teachers hired and in some years the interims are converted to “contract teachers,” he added in an e-mail. “This year there were also teacher and aide positions transferred from the IU to the District, at a net savings to the district.”

Both outgoing and new Schools Superintendents Bill Gretzula and David Baugh, respectively, have acknowledged that losing so much institutional knowledge and expertise is a hurdle for the district. But both also have expressed optimism, with Baugh commenting last week:

“Every time we loose a veteran we are losing years of incredibly valuable experience that has helped our students be successful. Our veteran teachers tend to retire at the top of their game so the loss of anyone of them is felt strongly by the buildings they depart.”

But he added that the new teachers being hired are “among some of the finest young educators I have ever worked with and I am personally thrilled that they are joining the Bensalem team.

“We don't hire new teachers unless they can demonstrate high levels of skill right out of the starting gate. Dr. Gretzula, my predecessor, has established rigorous procedures to ensure that we are putting strong young teachers at the front of the classrooms. Having been a part of the process for several years I can say that this is an impressive cohort of teachers that has joined us in Bensalem. All of our new hires are of such a caliber that I would want my own child to benefit from their expertise.”

Baugh also said many of those being hired have already worked as long-term substitutes, with several having done so for the district. So, he said, the district knows firsthand how they fare in the classroom.