Wisconsin teacher retirements expected to spike this year

Teacher retirements are expected to spike significantly in Wisconsin this year, as educators try to leave the profession with their retirement benefits intact.

Mimi Dobbins, a Green Bay first-grade teacher, told WFRV News she's decided to retire this year because the end of collective bargaining for teachers means class sizes will most likely go up, and she will have less time to plan her lessons. Under Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill, benefits will also eventually be reduced for teachers. (The collective bargaining piece of the bill has been blocked for now by a judge.)

"It could cost me more to teach next year than it would cost me to leave now. I could lose so much in benefits that it wouldn't be worth it to teach next year," veteran English teacher Claudia Caves told WUWM News of her decision to retire after 25 years.

"Losing some teachers who definitely, from a content perspective, are some of our experts, and from an instructional perspective, with the history they have, you lose that experience in the classroom as well," Dr. Greg Maass, Superintendent of Green Bay Schools told WFRV.

Meanwhile, several Idaho teachers explained their decisions to retire early to the Times-News. The state is limiting collective bargaining for teachers, eliminating teacher tenure, and moving to a merit-based pay system in a sweeping education reform overhaul. "I love to teach. I want to teach but I cannot do one more bandwagon year," Jan Hall told the paper. "Losing days has broken my heart, and my perspective is that those who did the most got the biggest cut," she said, referring to unpaid furloughs mandated by the state. The currently starting salary for an Idaho teacher with a bachelor's degree is less than $30,000 per year.

Stephen Sawchuk at EdWeek wonders if the early retirement trend may spread to other states that are rolling back traditional teacher job security and union representation. Will states be able to replace retiring veterans given reduced job security and the uncertainties of merit based pay?

(A sign outside the Wisconsin capitol in February: AP)