UPDATEDx4: Fort Worth ISD offers big cash for teachers willing to leave the district

The district says it's the "most lucrative" offer given by any Texas district so far.

FORT WORTH — Fort Worth ISD will offer incentives again for employees who want to resign or retire this summer. The effort will potentially reduce layoffs for next school year, since the district has announced that spending must be reduced.

“One of the most effective ways to cut personnel costs is by attrition,” said interim superintendent and soon-to-be full-time superintendent Walter Dansby in a statement. “And, the ability to plan around the number of employees who will resign or retire at the end of this school year gives us a real head start in saving the district both money and jobs.”

Fort Worth ISD officials have said that employees who take the incentives sooner will get more money. The plan will be voted on by the board on Valentine's Day.

[UPDATE: The district announced the incentives on Thursday, February 9. "The deal for FWISD employees is potentially the most lucrative ever offered by any Texas district to their employees," according to a statement.

Incentives are:

A reward of 10% of base contract salary for those who notify the district by February 29, 2012, with a cap of $10,000
A reward of 5% of base contract salary for those who notify the district after February 29, 2012 but no later than March 21, 2012, with a cap of $5,000
A reward of 2% of base contract salary for those who notify the district after March 21, 2012 but no later an March 30, 2012, with a cap of $2,000

The packages are offered to 400 secondary teachers, 200 elementary teachers, and 100 degreed non-classroom professionals. Staffers who have already left the district are not eligible, but those who have submitted paperwork for resignation or retirement at the end of the school year are eligible.

The offer is pending board approval on February 14. If passed, requests can be submitted beginning at 6 a.m. February 15.]

The Star-Telegram reports that last year's incentives resulted in nearly 500 Fort Worth ISD staffers taking money, thus avoiding major layoffs.

UPDATE x2: The incentive program was passed by the Fort Worth ISD board. Find an online calculator here to determine how much you could get for retiring or resigning.

UPDATE x3: Fort Worth ISD reports that 301 employees have taken the incentive package. Nearly 75% of the available money for elementary teachers has been taken. About 33% of the secondary teachers' money has been accounted for, and 40% of the non-teaching, degreed professionals' incentives have been taken. The district reports that once the slots are filled, the incentive won't be available anymore.

UPDATE x4: The incentives are not open to elementary school teachers anymore because the district reached its quota of 200 elementary teachers. It is still available to secondary teachers and "other degreed professionals" who are not teachers but work for the school district.

So far, 162 secondary teachers have resigned for a total of 400 spots. And 66 "other degreed professionals" have resigned for a total of 100 spots.