Full-time certified Hennessey staffers who qualify for normal, or early retirement, may enroll in the Hennessey Public Schools’ early retirement incentive program between now and Feb. 1.

It’s a “one-time only offer” and expires at 3 p.m. Feb. 1, 2021, according to the document approved by the school board last Monday night.

The plan took effect Dec. 15.

Options are:(1) Forty-percent lump sum payment, based on current Hennessey salary schedule, with payment to be made no later than June 30, 2021. (2) Fifty-percent of current Hennessey salary schedule to be divided and paid out in 24 consecutive monthly payments starting August 2021.

In addition, a retiree would receive $100 for each year of service in the district, and that payment plan may be decided by the employee.

The board approved that new incentive program after about 50 minutes in executive session to evaluate and discuss the employment of Superintendent Dr. Mike Woods for the 2021-22 school year.

Members took no action on Woods’ employment because they routinely vote on that hiring in January.

Woods is in his fifth year as Hennessey superintendent.

Four of the five school board members attended the closed session: President Dr. James Matthew Matousek, Clerk Cristopher Choate, Luke Lough and Patrick Griffin.

Board Vice President Joe Garrison attended the regular meeting via video conferencing and abstained on the vote to go into executive session and, as was noted on the agenda, Garrison would not participate in the closed session.

Garrison joined the meeting via video when the board returned to open session at 9:07 p.m.