OCR Text |
Show Early retirement will mean loss of years' experience The Alpine School District will lose as valuable resource this month as 11 administrators and 39 teachers, so far, retire from the classroom and the principal's office. The reason for this "Brain Drain," as some are calling it, is a program enacted by the state legislature to save money for Utah's underfunded schools. To cut operating costs, the state is offering teachers, administrators and classified personnel who qualify an early retirement deal designed to eliminate the number of people making the higher salaries that come with years of service. This opportunity is billed as a one-time chance to reap retirement benefits that would not equalled if the teacher chose to remain in the classroom until the standard retirement age. In place of the long-time teachers and principals will be new teachers and newly-appointed administrators who are on the lower end of education's seniority-oriented seniority-oriented pay scale. The change will save the state millions of dollars. But it will cost our schools hundreds of years of experience in the classroom as some of our finest teachers accept an offer too good to refuse. While education as a career has been maligned by some in recent years, many of these retiring educators represent the best of American's fine public education system. Some of those retiring have spent 30, 40 or even more years in the classroom, working with countless youngsters who will remember their teacher's name and feel their influence all their lives. Some would be happy to spend several more yea molding young minds, and shaping young lives they simply feel they cannot afford to pass up the portunity offered by the state. P- The money will be welcome. There is no question th education in Utah is underfunded and any savings V help solve the money crunch affecting all schools inth state. e And there will be fine teachers coming into 0 schools to replace those who are moving out. ca But Alpine District schools, as well as schon) throughout the state, will miss those who will end lifetime of educational service when the school dot)3 close the end of this month. R |