The Pella School Board approved another round early retirement applications as part of their first meeting of the new year Monday.

The board reviewed 15 more individuals who will take advantage of the policy put in place to assist with general fund cost savings. Twenty-one different administrators, teachers, and support staff will depart; four after this academic year, and 17 following 2024-25. Click here for the full list. Superintendent Greg Ebeling says the retirements are expected to save the district $375,000 per year after 2025 in the general fund; however, he says the cost comes at the expense of decades of institutional knowledge and the loss of personnel who still have plenty to offer students and the community.

Ebeling says additional decisions about the budget will come later this month into February after several meetings by a long range planning committee.