The Gadsden Independent School District Board of Education on Monday discussed a proposed voluntary retirement incentive that would pay eligible employees a one‑time $8,000 payment if they retire between Jan. 1, 2026, and July 1, 2026, but tabled the item after extended questions about cost, staffing and legal review.

Superintendent Dempsey described the proposal as “a one time $8,000 payment” and said the district would use the information about who intended to retire to plan next year’s budget. He told board members, “You’re paying a million dollars today that will save you millions of dollars in next year’s budget,” arguing the up‑front cost could reduce future personnel expenses.

Board members pressed district staff for details about eligibility, the number of potential participants and the funding source. Finance staff identified roughly 241 positions eligible for retirement and said the district modeled approving up to about 77 certified and 44 non‑certified employees under a first‑come, first‑served approach. The business office said the $8,000 payments would be funded from the district cash balance if the board approves transferring funds.

Human resources staff explained procedural conditions for employees: ERB (the New Mexico Educational Retirement Board) requires advance notice for retirement, and employees who retire and later return would be subject to standard hiring and pay rules. The district clarified teachers who return to work at the same licensure level would be paid at that licensure level, while some non‑certified wages and years of service might not be carried forward in rehire situations.

Several board members said they wanted more information before authorizing the incentive, asking for a legal review, a survey of employees to gauge interest, and historical data on how many employees had retired and returned within three months in recent years. One board member explicitly asked that the district provide a written legal opinion on the incentive’s mechanics and impacts.

After discussion, a motion to table the voluntary retirement incentive carried. The board directed staff to return with additional analyses, including legal review, a breakdown of eligible positions and answers to questions about the proposed funding and rehire policies.

The item had been presented previously as a discussion item on Aug. 28 and Sept. 9 and returned to the board for action at this meeting; the board’s decision to table means no incentive is approved at this time.