Four administrative employees in the Pleasant Valley School District opted to take the Retirement Incentive for Act 93 employees.

They include Susan Mowrer Benda, the director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment; William Gasper, the director of Operations; Nelia Marcheski, the Access coordinator; and Lynn Courtright, the chief of School Police/Security.

Their retirements, effective at the end of the school year, were approved by the school board Thursday night.

The retirement incentive was only available to Act 93 employees who are at least 60 years old. They must retire into the Public School Employee Retirement System. If they get another permanent job in a Pennsylvania Public School District, then they would forfeit the retirement incentives.

The retirement incentive gave them two options. According to the Memorandum of Understanding approved by the school board in March, the first option is 25% of their base salary in the final year of employment to be paid in two installments. The first installment would be paid on or before Oct. 31, and the second installment would be paid on or before Feb. 28, 2024. The option also includes single only health care benefits until the age of 65.

The second option is two party health care benefits for both until the age of 65.

Both options require the retired employee to make monthly contributions to the benefit equal to the premium assistance amount from PSERS. If PSERS discontinues the assistance, then they would pay the premium amount at the time of their retirement.

According to the district’s Compensation Plan for 2021-22 through 2024-25, Mowrer Benda was scheduled to make $145,723 this school year. The first option of 25% of her final base pay would give her $36,430 divided into two installments. Gasper was scheduled to make $109,209 with 25% being $27,300. Marcheski was supposed to make $74,123 this school year with 25% being $18,530; and Courtright was to make $72,283 with 25% being $18,070.

It was not said during the meeting, which options the employees were choosing.

The Human Resources report also listed the upcoming retirements of some teachers. They are Michele Herrmann, a first-grade teacher at PVES; and two PVHS teachers, Richard Petrushka and Kenneth Piontkowski.

“This evening, we approved the teachers’ retirements and we also approved some administrators’ retirements,” said School Board President Susan Kresge. “I just want to wish them all well. The three teachers have been with us probably for 90 some years, if you combine their years of service, so we will miss them.

“I just want to wish everyone the best in their new chapter in their lives. Congratulations.”

During public comment, resident and PVSD employee Desiree Murray recognized Chief Lynn Courtright’s upcoming retirement.

“She has been a breath of fresh air and I do feel safe. Her, Ron and the security, I can’t thank them enough. ... You are definitely a great leader and somebody I admire. I’m really, really grateful that you’ve given so much time to the district, to the kids, and to the staff to make us all feel safe, so thank you for that. I do appreciate that from the bottom of my heart,” Murray said.