Editorials: Teacher Exodus - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorials: Teacher Exodus

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By Collin R. Gaston - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 23 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-23 23:20:04 GMT
    Anyone who takes advantage of one of Alabama's most treasured assets – the elderly – should face swift and steep consequences.  Thanks to a bill passed in the final hours of most recent legislative session that
    Anyone who takes advantage of one of Alabama's most treasured assets – the elderly – should face swift and steep consequences.  Thanks to a bill passed in the final hours of most recent legislative session that

  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:20:08 GMT
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
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MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) -

This week the Governor's office said there isn't a need for a special session of the Legislature to address the looming retirement of thousands of teachers.  The RSA predicts 1,800 to 2,000 teachers will retire on December 1st to avoid higher health insurance costs.

The Governor's office went on to say there is a solution to this.  Indeed there are solutions but no guarantees.  Under the state's retirement rules, teachers can go ahead with plans to retire on December 1st and become substitute teachers for the month of December or they can suspend their retirement and return to their classrooms on January 1st on temporary teaching contracts through the end of the school year. 

Here's the issue – what's the plan IF those that have already raised their hand to retire don't like either of these options? What is our back up plan?  Since we will not be convening a special session to come up with alternatives we need to know what we are going to do if – worst case scenario – none of the teachers respond to these options.  That could mean 1,800 plus classrooms short a teacher before the Christmas break and local school officials scrambling for qualified substitutes. 

We need to put this issue back on top of the pile and get MORE proactive solutions in place to guard against the unknown and serve the needs of our school children.

We appreciate and encourage your feedback.

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