HOWLAND — A number of longtime staff members are slated to retire at the end of the 2025-26 school year, but they could return sooner, rather than later.

The Howland Board of Education on Monday approved the retirement resignation of Howland Springs Primary School principal Carl Clark, effective June 30, after 18 years with the district.

Superintendent Kevin Spicher said the move will be an administrator reduction for the district.

Board member Julie Altawil noted she’s seen a lot of districts do reductions in force and make many cuts, thanking both Spicher and Treasurer Julie Sloan for downsizing when it’s necessary.

“I know these decisions aren’t easy, but it is the right thing to do,” Altawil said.

The board also accepted the retirement resignations of Howland High School assistant principal Michael Pollifrone, intervention specialists Mary Ellen Ross and John Thomas, math teacher Carlene Whittaker, language arts teacher Edward Whittaker and fourth-grade teacher Marnetta Xides, in the final week of May.

The board later approved a resolution to initiate retire/rehire procedures for Pollifrone, Ross and Xides, after they expressed the desire to be rehired to the positions. Spicher said the agreement was negotiated between the Howland Classroom Teachers Association and the board to ensure school officials could retain staff who are sound in what they provided to the district.

Spicher said it gives the district the chance to retain the employees at a decreased cost. He also said the rehired employees are limited to two years of employment automatically.

“The stringent parameters that were put in place were put in place to not only offer the employees something, but also to protect the Board of Education and the school district in making sure that we have the ability to have teachers who the principals see and believe are sound teachers and are progressive still in their teaching,” Spicher said.

He said district officials also want to make sure they have teachers and administrators who are confident in what they are doing.