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House Approves Retired Teacher Rehire Bill
HB 416 Seeks to Ease Shortage of Educators in Alaska Schools

(JUNEAU) - Alaska teachers or principals who took advantage of retirement incentive programs would be eligible for rehire to help ease Alaska's teacher shortage under House Bill 416, which passed the House unanimously on Tuesday.

Sponsored by the House Special Committee on Education, the bill is an effort to provide local districts more options in fulfilling their need for administrators, and for teachers in special education, math, science or other special areas, said Rep. Con Bunde (R-Anchorage) chair of the education committee.

"It is incumbent upon the Legislature to provide additional tools to Alaskan school districts to ease the current teacher shortage and continue to assist school districts in their efforts to improve student learning," said Bunde. "This bill is a valuable tool that offers districts some much needed flexibility in addressing the need to have a qualified and experienced teacher in each classroom."

In the 1990s, many state school districts offered senior teachers cash or special retirement benefits in an effort to trim the state education work force of its highest-paid members. But with an unexpected surge in the demand for teachers, the approximately 208 people who accepted such retirement incentives are now seen as a quick source of experienced personnel, Bunde said.

Under HB 416, districts seeking to hire retired teachers would have to certify that they were having difficulty filling positions. Those hired under the bill could keep their retirement incentives, and would be able to either continue receiving retirement benefits, or accrue additional service time under the state education retirement system. Districts could count returnees' prior years of service in setting pay rates. The program would be available only through the end of the 2004-05 school year.

Those who retired under the Public Employees Retirement System, and subsequently earned certification as teachers or principals could also be hired under the bill. The bill applies to all state school districts and to state-run educational facilities including the Alyeska Central School, Mt. Edgecumbe boarding school, the Alaska State School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the Alaska Vocational Technical Center.

HB 416 moves next to the Senate for consideration.

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