Feb 27, 2025 - Education

Des Moines Public Schools offers early retirement for administrators

Linh Ta

Illustration of an eaten apple with a skin made of a dollar bill — Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

Des Moines Public Schools approved an early retirement incentive for administrators who have worked in the district for at least 20 years.

State of play: DMPS will pay eligible administrators who opt into the voluntary benefit their 2024-25 base salary, as well as a year of health insurance coverage.

Zoom in: Eligible employees must be at least 55 years old and have 20 consecutive years of service.

The opt-out deadline is April 1.

What they're saying: Offering early retirement for administrators is an "unprecedented" move for DMPS, Superintendent Ian Roberts told school board members this month in a meeting.

But Roberts says the district wanted to give longtime leaders the choice to "retire with dignity" and show appreciation for their work.

Between the lines: Early retirements are often used to help manage staffing costs, though according to public documents released by the district, this incentive is not intended to reduce job numbers.

Only seven current employees are eligible for the program.

What's next: If accepted, the early retirements will take effect June 30.

The district will determine how many positions will need to be replaced under its long-term workforce strategy.

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Des Moines Public Schools offers early retirement for administrators

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