Salem Board to consider rehiring retiring superintendent, principal, two others
SALEM, Ohio - The Salem City School District Board of Education has announced a July 2 meeting to discuss the potential re-employment of four personnel who are set to retire. Superintendent Sean Kirkland, Principal Cindy Viscounte, and certified employees Ronald Johnson and Kathleen Piero are all under consideration for rehiring to their current positions after their respective retirements.
Retirees returning to classrooms is not new in public education. It benefits both former employees and school districts. Retirees can supplement their pensions with a paycheck, while school boards gain experienced personnel and manage budgets effectively.
The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the Salem High School Library, at 1200 East Sixth Street. The public notice and meeting are required by Ohio law, which mandates such proceedings when a school board considers rehiring an employee to the same position from which they retired.
Superintendent Kirkland and Principal Viscounte are slated to retire effective July 31, 2025. Certified employees Johnson and Piero will retire on May 30, 2025.
According to the Ohio School Boards Association, state law permits school boards to rehire retired employees, but specific notice and public hearing requirements must be met before re-employment. These requirements apply to employees seeking re-employment in the same position within the same district, covering both the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS) and State Employees Retirement System retirees.
The public notice must be provided 60 days before the board intends to act on the rehire, and the public meeting must occur between 15 and 30 days before that action. While public participation is not mandatory at the meeting, it is encouraged if it aligns with the board's established practices.
Rehired retirees may face changes to their health coverage, as STRS may deem them ineligible for primary health coverage if the district provides a comparable medical plan. However, the notice and hearing requirements do not apply to annual contract renewals for rehired retirees, provided the initial re-employment complied with the statutory requirements.
