San Diego City Wire

Hundreds of San Diego Unified educators are choosing to retire early as the school district is offering retirement packages for those deciding to retire mid-way through the academic year. 

NBC 7 San Diego reported that as a means of saving money, the school board has opted to offer retirement packages as enrollment has fallen significantly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

A total of 370 employees 55 and older have opted to take the retirement packages. Those 370 include 130 teachers, as well as many district nurses and counselors. 

Individuals not on Medicare will receive $75,000 for health care reimbursements over five years, while those with Medicare benefits will receive a total of $25,000 for health care reimbursements over five years. 

The school district felt that this represents one of the best ways to counter the decrease in enrollment and lessening demands for employees. 

“We as a district offered this retirement opportunity specifically at this time, specifically so we can prepare for our future,” Superintendent Cindy Marten said, as reported by NBC 7.

According to La Jolla Light, San Diego Unified School District has a budget of $1.6 billion, and received roughly $115 million in federal funding from coronavirus aid, but it is unlikely that the district will receive more stimulus funding. 

The school district has projected a $48.9 million deficit from expenses this year. Even with the cuts involving 370 employees, the district anticipates a $155 million deficit in 2021, according to La Jolla Light. 

Employment changes have been met with a range of emotions, including anger from parents of students who believe it's unfair to cause children even more uncertainty in such a challenging year, NBC 7 reported.