Seven of Bigfork School District's staff set to retire

Bigfork High School teachers Mike Boshka and Ana Young and Bigfork Elementary School teachers Cathy Bach, Terry Gross, Sharon Lamar and Carolyn Pitz and curriculum director Jackie Boshka accepted an early retirement package offer from the Bigfork School District’s board of trustees last week.

Most of the seven have worked at Bigfork Schools for over 25 years and will retire at the end of this school year.

“They’ve really given a lot to our district in that time, blood, sweat, and tears,” BHS principal Matt Porrovecchio said. “Judging from the discussion, it was appreciated and helped them make the decision to retire.”

The district’s early retirement package offers $7,000 a year for three years for medical expenses. According to Superintendent Cynthia Clary, Jackie Boshka asked for a similar package offer so she could retire along with her husband, Mike Boshka.

Maureen Averill, chairperson of the Bigfork School District board of trustees, said they researched what other districts do and created something that fit.

The district’s next early retirement incentive won’t be offered until fiscal year 2016.

“From a community member’s standpoint, it saves the district money,” Porrovecchio said. “Typically, the amount of money that is made by a new teacher that comes in offsets that cost since they don’t make as much.”

In other Bigfork School District news, the board approved a multi-district agreement between BHS and the elementary school. This essentially means each school will contribute to a shared account and use it for larger projects not typically included in their budgets.

According to Eda Taylor, district clerk and business manager for Bigfork Schools, this will decrease the likelihood the schools will need to ask voters to approve an additional funding levy.

“It’s the district and board being proactive to save for a rainy day,” Clary said.

The district’s next board meeting will be April 25 at 5 p.m.