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The teacher buyout will save the district an estimated $150,000 annually, according to Superintendent Duane Lange. The savings generated by the paraprofessionals retirement has not been determined.

The district has slashed approximately $960,000 from next year's budget through a series of cuts. Officials initially planned to cut $755,000, but it was necessary to make deeper cuts as they await word of possible state funding decreases.

The district has pink slipped seven and a half teachers, four part-time paraprofessionals and the contracted special education director.

Other cuts included reducing the elementary principal contract by 20%, slashing supply budgets by 20%, cutting the technology coordinator position by 30 days, and eliminating one bus route.

"Hopefully it is enough," Lange said.

Fifty teachers were eligible for the severance packages. The board previously stated they might refuse the offer if less than six teachers accepted, but they determined it was cost efficient to approve the four buyouts.

The teachers have several options: a one year lump sum payment of $16,000; $18,000 spread over two years; or $20,000 spread over three years.

To qualify staff must have worked for the district ten years or reached the 11th step of the contract.

Accepting the package were Lanny Janes (elementary counselor), Jan Dral (2nd grade), Ann Bezotte (1st grade), and Rosann Clark (middle school English).

Existing employees will absorb the elementary counselor and middle school English positions, Lange said. Laid off employees will be recalled to fill the 1st and 2nd grade jobs.

Elementary paraprofessionals Pat Tzydorek and Carol Janos have accepted a buyout offer for support staff. They will receive a one-time payment of $7,500.

Lange said the positions may be filled with the recall of one or more of the support staff currently on layoff. The savings are unknown until the board determines how to fill the jobs.

In other business, the board voted to secure a loan of $715,000 from Chase Bank with an interest rate of 4.22% to pay for an energy retrofit from Johnson Controls of Saginaw.