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Cartwright approves retiree 'working for benefits' program and ESP pay increases
Summary
The board approved a program allowing qualifying retirees to return as substitutes for 35 days in exchange for district medical insurance, and voted to adopt ESP salary-schedule changes that include a 2% cell increase plus step adjustments (about a 4% effective change in many cases).
The Cartwright governing board on May 6 approved a retiree return-to-work policy, called the "working for benefits" program, for the 2026'7 school year and adopted salary-schedule and calendar changes affecting educational support professionals (ESPs) and related staff.
Under the program, qualifying retirees (hired on or before June 30, 2025, and meeting minimum years-of-service thresholds) may return as emergency substitutes and must work 35 days in the classroom to receive district medical insurance. Doctor Etheridge said retirees also must hold fingerprint clearance cards and, where required, emergency-substitute certification; they are paid $1 per day to establish employment status for insurance purposes. Etheridge said about 107 ESPs, 118 certified staff and 11 administrators meet eligibility requirements and that 12 retirees had expressed interest in participating this year.
Board members asked whether administrators were currently participating and requested a report showing eligible employees and those who expressed interest (numbers preferred to preserve privacy). Etheridge agreed to provide an updated list and clarified distinctions between eligible employees and those who have expressed interest.
On compensation, Etheridge presented salary schedule adjustments for ESPs, nurses, food-service ESPs and related groups that include a 2% increase in schedule cells plus step adjustments, which he said amounts to roughly a 4% change in effective pay for many employees. The board also approved updated work calendars to align most categories to a five-day workweek, with preschool staff as an exception.
Votes and follow-up
All personnel and calendar items passed on recorded roll-call votes. The board directed Human Resources to publish the approved calendars and salary schedules and to report back with the requested eligible/interested counts for the working-for-benefits program.
