A proposed retirement incentive was approved for the Akron Faculty Association by the Board of Education on Wednesday.

Anyone 55 or older who meets New York State retirement requirements and has served the Akron School District for 20 years is eligible for the incentive. The offer is $15,000 each if one to three people retire; $20,000 each if four or more do. The incentive was increased by $5,000 for each scenario after board member Daniel J. Caprio suggested offering a higher amount as an added inducement.

“I’d personally favor $20,000 across-the-board because I think we’ll have instant savings,” Caprio said. After board members discussed the amendment to the recommendation by School Superintendent Robin B. Zymroz, they passed it unanimously.

The meeting was held in the Library Media Center to accommodate the large crowd, including students attending as a requirement of government classes and members of the district’s Budget Advisory Committee.

The board heard budget presentations from Suzanne Kovic, director of curriculum development, and the three school principals. All stressed that they have achieved budget cuts in light of the state’s tight fiscal situation.

The presentations were preliminary. A budget, which will be scrutinized by the advisory committee, will be adopted in April and presented to district voters in May.

School Business Administrator Cynthia M. Tretter had some good news for the board: Restructuring the district’s local share of its indebtedness dating from 2001 has resulted in a savings of $242,386.

In other business, the board approved a $11,599 change order for the capital project. The work entails relocating natural gas well piping that conflicts with construction of the retaining wall for the gymnasium addition.

The board also approved a three-year contract with Erie 1 Board of Cooperative Educational Services to authorize the Western New York Regional Information Center to furnish computer services to the district for $161,866, payable in 36 monthly payments of $4,496.