Resignations were accepted by the Cape Girardeau Board of Education during a meeting Thursday from four additional teachers signing up for the early retirement incentive offered by the school district.

Board members accepted the resignations during a special board meeting held at noon at the district board office, 61 N. Clark. The retirement incentive was offered earlier this month to help meet the estimated $1 million the district needs to reduce from its budget in the next school year.

A total of 16 certified teachers and counselors from elementary, secondary and vocational schools have opted for the retirement incentive. Administrators had originally estimated 14 retirees would accept the incentive, which would have meant about $170,000 in savings in the next school year after some six new hires were retained at lower salaries.

Business manager Dr. Steve Del Vecchio said he is unsure what the actual savings will be for the next school year because it is not clear how many new hires will be needed. "We don't know if there will be any more retirees, and we'll still need to know how many of these people will have to be replaced," he said after the meeting.

In other business, board members read bids on a Central Junior High renovation project and moved back the bid schedule one week on the elementary school site planned near the intersection of Sprigg and Bertling Streets. Bids will now be opened on May 18 for the elementary project and approved on May 26.

Board members also stated in a poll survey they wanted to enforce bid specifications previously set for property and casualty insurance, said Superintendent Dr. Dan Tallent. Board members reopened the bidding process on the insurance Monday after two of three bidding companies questioned submissions from each other that didn't meet the bid specifications.