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The retirements are what Gov. Chris Christie wants: That’s why he’s proposed cutting pension and health benefits for current teachers while giving a break to those who retire by Aug. 1. It’ll work, too.
Too bad. There are plenty of talented young teachers hurting for work and plenty of long-timers who would do justice to their pupils and students — and their districts — by bailing. But what about those who still bring it every day? Is this fair to them? Is this fair to the kids?
The Star-Ledger checked records and found roughly a fifth of the teachers in the state qualify for retirement. For some districts, it’s as much as 40 percent of the staff, the analysis shows.
Hudson County stands to lose 25 percent if all of the teachers take the money and run. And who would blame them, after all these years of being underpaid?
But there’s more: Statewide, a quarter of those eligible have masters degrees, while MORE THAN 42 PERCENT have doctorates.
Talk about brain drain.
“The best deal is on the table right now, and they know with certainty that that’s going to change,” Alan Guenther, a spokesman for Education Commissioner Bret Schundler, told the Ledger. “If they want to retire now, they can retire with full benefits and pay, but if they wait, it will not be the same benefit and salary structure.”
Jerry DeMarco Publisher/Editor
Emotionally, it’s unfair to have educators who have given their lives to shaping young minds walk the plank — and make it look like they jumped when they really were pushed.
But here’s where it gets really interesting: The analysis found that over FORTY PERCENT (40%) of more than 9,000 school administrators in the state are also eligible to bolt with a full pension by the end of July.
Now THERE’S some real savings. THAT’S where budgets — and important programs — can be salvaged.
Look around: Just about every district, it seems, has responded to the crisis by cutting their most important assets: THE TEACHERS.
At the same time, no one seems to be nudging the fat-cat administrators toward the door.
Let’s say Christie doesn’t move off the dime, and enough administrators don’t take the bait: What happens in the end?
What do we gain? What do we lose?
Who really benefits?
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