The Louisiana House unanimously backs legislation that would allow some retired teachers to return to work, while still receiving their full retirement benefits. Baton Rouge Representative Rick Edmonds on why this bill is needed.
“We’ve got a critical teacher shortage that has arrived at our doorstep,” said Edmonds.
Edmonds is the sponsor of the legislation and the state department of education has expressed concern about not having enough qualified teachers.
“We could have as many as 25-hundred teacher shortage by the fall semester, so this won’t fill them all, but obviously we’ve enlarged the pool as large as we could get it,” said Edmonds.
Currently, retired teachers can return the classroom and collect 25-percent of their final average compensation. Edmonds boosts that percentage up to 50-percent. He was asked why not move the percentage higher.
“It would be the last three years of the highest rate of employment and get 50% of that and that my friend is what I think we can pass,” said Edmonds.
Edmonds bill heads to the Senate for further consideration. The Senate has already passed its own bill to bring back retired teachers.
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