001Good morning everybody. We're going to wait 2 more minutes to give a couple more people a chance to join and then we'll get going. >> All right, good morning. The April 3rd, 2026 Forest Grove School District Board of Directors meeting is called to order at 8:04 a.m. We'll start start with a roll call of members present. Brisa Franco. Here. Kate Grandusky. Here. Kristi Kacki, I am here. Uh Pete Truax is excused this morning and absent, and Alma Lizano is on her way in. We will recognize her when she gets on the screen. I'm looking for approval for of today's agenda. So moved. Sorry. Okay, you're sorry. It's been moved in I think second in by Kate. All in favor say I. I. I. Opposed. All right, and we're going to move on to our action
002item FGEA and F and Forest Grove School District license MOU for retirement resignation incentive with Sarah Hamlin, Director of Human Resources. Welcome, Sarah. Thank you. Okay, so this I I assume this is where I say short statement about it. Okay, thank you. Yeah, that'd be great. Yeah, so the the Forest Grove School District and the FGEA leadership have worked together on language to provide a retirement and resignation incentive for licensed staff. As you all know, we are looking at a tight budget situation going forward for the next school year, and our hope is that this resignation and retirement incentive will allow for some individuals to make a decision to voluntarily exit, which would then reduce the number of potential reductions in force that we have to move forward with. So, the language that we have
003agreed upon is a $24,000 payment. They would licensed staff would have the option between a $24,000 payment and health insurance contributions up to the cap for 1 year. And that's the 26-27 insurance cap. They, in order to qualify for the incentive, the licensed educators must meet the qualifications outlined in the MOU, which would be they have to have at least 10 consecutive years of service with the district, and they must be placed on a specific salary placement this year, which would be column or I'm sorry, row M, columns five or six. So, those are the highest levels of the salary schedule. Uh questions from the board. Um I have a question um when you say um program options, one of the program options, uh Sarah, what do you mean by that? I think that's the
004they can choose between either the $24,000 payment, one-time payment that would be paid on July 20th, 2026, or they can select um the option of the health insurance premium contributions up to the cap for the 26-27 um benefit plan year. So, it's either one or the other, right? Yeah, correct. The way it's the way this is written is not clear because there's eight eight um or there's 12 things on this. So, when it says license retirement resignation incentive program options are one of the following. Um I think somewhere it should say one-time lump or health insurance premium. I mean, that's the way I read it, but I don't know about others. And the other question I had is um Number eight, it says qualifying members must notify the district in writing by April 20th which
005incentive method they choose. So, for me it wasn't clear, okay? So, you can look at that, but I would think that you'd say one or two, you'd say either one or two. Because it looked like to me when I read it yesterday, it looked like it was all all of the eight or 12 or whatever. Um, does that make sense? It does. I'm wondering if we should have had um options one or two and then the numbers three through 12 should have been bullet points maybe um or the terms and conditions as opposed to continued the numbering. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I think this is great. I think what you guys have put together is is fantastic. I think it's good for the district and I I think it's a a wonderful incentive for um
006you know, our retirees. So, I thank you very much for doing that. And if I may, before the board um deliberates and takes action, um there will be an opportunity for those who qualify and are interested to talk to their association leadership and get clarification. We will put out materials that clarify how the process works and what the options are. So, your feedback is well said, Director Gandusky, and something that we will certainly respond to in the materials that we put out after this has been ratified by the association and hopefully approved by the board. And And I'd add to that Oh, I'm sorry. Is this going to be for um our next board meeting in April 14th? Will this come before them? >> an action today, Kate, that will take which will which will
007then allow them to move forward and offer it to their members. That makes sense. That makes sense. Okay, thank you. Sorry to interrupt. No, that's okay. Sarah, you had something and then I want to make sure Brisa has a chance to weigh in here. I was just going to add to what um Dr. West said. The association is holding sessions. Um they held one on Wednesday afternoon and I believe they held one on Thursday afternoon and it is out for a vote right now. Um we are receiving and answering questions that staff are having. So, um there is interest in this from this staff group as well. And uh Director Franco. Uh yeah, I think my my only question or I guess kind of curiosity is uh regarding Oh dear, sorry. It states that individuals
008who are retiring and are resigning are not able to work within the school district within the following two school years. Um and I was wondering if that's in any capacity or is that just in their capacity as a licensed member? Like could they work in a different role or is it just flat out cannot work in those two school years? Yeah, they would not be able to return to employment for um Forest Grove School District in those two years in any capacity. Okay. And is that Sorry, is that because they'd have to be paid the same level or what why is it that they're like if they wanted to take a a different position like um that wouldn't require them to be at the same pay grade. Because we this retirement incentive is a way
009for us to create flexibility in our system. So as Director Hamlin said, we do not potentially face as many reductions in force. But it's also as a cost savings. And so if we reemploy people, we are not realizing that cost savings. That makes sense. Thank you. Um that was my only kind of curiosity. All right, anything else to add from anyone? And if not, I'll look for a motion. Motion approve the attendant proposed MOU between FGEA and FGSD for retirement resignation incentive for the 2025-2026 school year pending FGEA ratification. I'll second it. All right, and any additional discussion? I would like to add I think on behalf of the board just a gratitude and recognition of the time and the flexibility that both the district team and FGEA have to have had to put in
010on top of all the other things that people are juggling right now to be able to make this something that everybody can agree with and and hopefully help all of us and so I really appreciate the time and work on this and thank you Sarah. And with that I think we'll do we'll do a vote of all in favor say I. I. Opposed? All right, and I believe motion passes. All right, everybody. Thank you so much for showing up today and I think there being no further business this meeting is adjourned at 8:13 a.m. Thank you.