DAYTONA BEACH – Daytona Beach Community College is losing 90 full-time employees – 12 percent of its work force – through an early retirement program designed to save nearly $2 million over the next eight years. Among those retiring or resigning are 17 faculty members and 10 administrators, including two vice presidents. Kay Quareles vice president of planning, research and development resigned effective Dec. 31, 1997. Dr. Calvin Woodland, vice president of student development, will leave June 30. Sixty-three of the employees taking advantage of the voluntary separation program are career employees such as office workers and maintenance staff.

"The goal is to reduce salary costs, free up resources that can be reallocated to areas of greater need, permit the infusion of new talent into the organization and, at the same time, provide an outstanding benefit package to our employees who gave long service to the college." Said Dr. Chuck Mojock, vice president for planning and institutional advancement. Mojock, formerly vice president for administration, moved into Quarles’ vacant position, and the title was changed.

Employees who worked at DBCC for at least seven years and had 10 or more years in the Florida Retirement System were offered the Voluntary Incentive Plan – known on campus as the VIP – last fall. Those who were eligible were allowed to retire early. Others were able to resign with VIP benefits, even if they weren’t eligible for state retirement. The first round of separations took effect Dec. 31. Some others will leave June 30, while nine of the employees will leave June 30, 1999. DBCC hired a plan administrator, Educators Preferred Corp., to oversee the VIP. The Southfield, Mich., company will be paid $1,000 for each employee who takes advantage of the plan.

The employees will receive monthly payments for eight years. The amount paid over that time is a percentage of their annual salary – from 25 percent to 100 percent – depending on how many years they’ve worked for DBCC. The employees also will be paid for unused sick and vacation leave, and have the option of free health insurance for eight years or an extra $200 a month. Because most of the employees were longtime employees in the upper pay levels for their respective positions, DBCC will save about $100,000 the first year and $250,000 a year for seven years after that. The 90 employees’ salaries and benefits cost the college $3.3 million a year. VIP expenses will total $950,000 a year for five years. The $2.3 million left will be reallocated for replacements. Some positions will be eliminated, but others may be created in growth areas, Mojock said. Decisions will be made as part of the budget process this spring.