More than 40 percent of Roanoke City Public Schools teachers and administrators who were offered an early retirement incentive last month accepted it.

That potentially means the jobs of newer teachers may be protected as the city school board attempts to eliminate a multimillion-dollar deficit.

"Every retiree theoretically saves a person with less seniority," Superintendent Rita Bishop said.

The early retirement offer was extended to 118 full-time instructional and administrative employees who were at least 50 years of age with 17 years of service to the school division. It included a one-time payment equal to 25 percent of the employee's current base salary.

Bishop said 51 people accepted early retirement offers. School officials previously projected the savings could be as much as $1.5 million if every eligible employee accepted. An exact amount of savings for the 51 positions was unavailable Friday.

Division administrators will recommend specific cuts to the school board at a meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at William Fleming High School. School officials projected a shortfall of between $11 million and $15 million for the upcoming fiscal year (the current fiscal year budget is approximately $143 million), but the true sting won't be known until state legislators adopt a budget later this month. The school board is slated to adopt a preliminary categorical budget March 15. When the board meets again for a regular meeting April 13, any reductions in force will have to be approved.

In a letter to employees Bishop wrote: "I wish I could be specific about who may be affected; however, I cannot be until the governmental funding agencies provide us with final budget numbers."

The city school division eliminated its standard early retirement program last year in a cost-saving move. Under the plan, teachers worked 20 days a year for five years and earned 20 percent of their salary. The division also paid health insurance premiums for early retirees. Dire financial straits prompted the school board to authorize the new retirement incentive this winter.

The bleak fiscal forecast also prompted Roanoke County Public Schools to offer an incentive above what is regularly offered, said Carol Whitaker, the division's assistant superintendent of personnel. It was offered to employees over age 50 with at least 10 years of service to the division. The county school board is offering to pay for up to five years of group health insurance or a one-time lump sum payment of $12,500. The deadline for the county's new incentive is March 19.