Host of Kalispell teachers retiring this year

The Daily Inter Lake

Twenty-five teachers with more than six centuries of experience in Kalispell’s public schools are retiring at the end of the school year.

Most are retiring to take advantage of the district’s early retirement incentive, offered this year to help alleviate future budget woes.

District officials estimate the retirements will save about $475,000 in 2011-12, which would have a significant impact on the anticipated $2 million shortfall the district will face that year.

The retirements will not affect the 2010-11 budget.

By taking the early retirement option, employees will receive an 18 percent bonus equal to a three-year average of their highest annual salary. The district also will make health insurance contributions of $518 a month for five years after retirement or until the employees reach 65, whichever happens first.

Employees had until the middle of March to apply for the early retirement incentive.

While their resignations will lighten the budget burden, the 25 people retiring at the end of the year take with them 661 years of teaching experience in the Kalispell district.

The retirees, as well as their most recent jobs within the district and years of service, are listed at right.

Name    Position    Location    Years

            of service

Luann Borgen    Second-grade teacher    Russell Elementary    29

Judith Butterfield    Speech pathologist    Edgerton Elementary    32

Kevin Calnan    Social studies teacher    Laser    24

Jean Carlson    Special education teacher    Edgerton Elementary    26

Donna Crocker    Science teacher    Flathead High    20

Brenda Dorrington    Kindergarten teacher    Elrod Elementary    25

Alice Ford    English teacher    Kalispell Middle School    20

Randall Hansen    Social studies teacher    Flathead High    27

Mitzi Hensleigh    Special education teacher    Glacier High    32

Galen Huffman    Third-grade teacher    Russell Elementary    25

John Hughes    Science teacher    Laser    22

Jon Kaps    Librarian    Glacier High    22

Robin Krogstad    Speech pathologist    Hedges Elementary    30

Jack Martin    Social studies teacher    Kalispell Middle School    26

Tanya McCully    Music teacher    Edgerton Elementary    20

Frank Miller    Teacher    Bridge Academy    39

Dirk Niebaum    Fourth-grade teacher    Peterson Elementary    19

Jean Paschke    Fourth-grade teacher    Hedges Elementary    21

Steve Plympton    Math teacher    Kalispell Middle School    26

Debra Rauk    P.E. teacher    Flathead High    29

Wendy Senger Science teacher    Flathead High    30

Jim Smithwick-Hann    P.E. teacher    Glacier High    29

Kirk Streit    Social studies teacher    Kalispell Middle School    32

Joseph Sullivan    English teacher    Kalispell Middle School    25

John York    Librarian    Glacier High    31