(5-30-25) The Coldwater Schools Board of Education will consider the request of three current administrators to re-employ them in their current position after they retire.

In Ohio, school districts can rehire retired employees (retire-rehire) after they have retired, but they must follow specific procedures. The retiree must meet the minimum age and years of service requirements for retirement, and the district must provide public notice and hold a public meeting before re-employment. 

Here’s a more detailed explanation:

  • Retire-Rehire Process: Ohio law allows districts to rehire employees who have met retirement eligibility requirements. This allows individuals to retire and then be rehired into their previous or similar positions. 

Public Notice and Hearing:

The district must give public notice at least 60 days before the re-employment begins, stating the person is or will be retired and is seeking re-employment. A public meeting must also be held between 15 and 30 days before the re-employment begins to discuss the rehiring. 

Notice Requirements:

The public notice must include the retiree’s name, and the time, date, and location of the public meeting. 

STRS Ohio and SERS Requirements:

If the retiree is covered by the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS Ohio) or the School Employees Retirement System of Ohio (SERS), they must comply with the respective system’s reemployment rules. 

Reemployment and Pension Payments:

Reemployed retirees may continue to receive pension payments, but their reemployment may affect the amount they receive. For example, if a teacher is reemployed within the first two months of retirement, they may forfeit their monthly retirement benefits for those months. 

Urgent Situations:

If the district has an urgent reason to fill the position in an expedited manner, the public notice period can be shortened to 30 days. 

Individualized Decisions:

Each school board makes individual decisions about whether to rehire retirees, based on the specific circumstances of their district.