The Bluffton school board accepted the resignation of Jim Raabe on March 21. Raabe has been with the school system for 30 years and will retire effective June 2. He has taught accounting at Bluffton High School and served as the high school athletic director.

Raabe's retirement is the third teacher in the system to retire at the end of this school year. Susan Gratz, sixth grade language arts teacher, will retire effect the last day of the school year. Bonnie Hammond, Title I reading coordinator in the elementary, will also retire the last day of the school year. The Gratz and Hammond announcements were made at the February board meeting.

Other board action on March 21 follows:Gail Gillham, Matthew Keasal and Lisa Youngpeter were issues substitute teacher contracts. Melissa Ritter was hired as a cafeteria worker for three hours a day at $11.24 for a 60-day trial period effective March 15.

Jennifer Yost was offered a long-term substitute (20 days at $72 per day) effective March 14.

This spring the Bluffton High School choirs took a trip to Disney World in Florida. The board approved a similar trip for the high school band. The band will go to New Orleans, La., from Feb. 29 to March 4, 2012.

The board authorized R.D. Neff & Associates of Bluffton to develop bid specifications and to advertise an air conditioning project in the elementary. The project will include air conditioning in the main hallway and the second and third grade wing of the elementary. Bids will be opened at 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 12.

The board entered executive session to prepare for negotiations with public employees. No action was taken.