They need to go now because the State will just screw them out of everything they should be getting if they stay. I dont blame the teachers one bit. They really don't need the teachers anyway after the loss of all the immigrant students there is no need to stay around there is nobody left to teach. This is just a measure by the state to screw hard working under paid teachers and nothing more.

Let them leave and come up with a solution that works on less or realocate money from all of the extracurricular expenses to hire more. The schools could use a much smaller budget if they'd learn to stick with one that works. The per student spending of public schools is an outrageous embarrasment. Compare the per student spending of public schools with those of private school and homeschool students that on average test higher and you can easily understand that throwing money at these schools is a waste.

All these teachers, administrators, custodians, etc. are getting out while the getting is good as the expression goes, and I don't blame them!!! I wish I had enough years to pack up and go with them. You think this is just teachers? No, it's all employees with the years that are leaving. Why would I stick around and put up with the nonsense that I already do for less pay??? I wouldn't!!! This is what the people get for not standing up to the lawmakers when they were putting this out there on the table last Spring...no one fought for us then, why start now? This is what the lawmakers/governor want to happen- a mass exodus so they can declare a "Reduction in Force(RTF)" and then convert the schools to charter schools. They knew what they were doing, they had this planned all along!!! Get rid of the highest-paid people in education- the more years you have, the higher the pay... And where was all the concern last Spring when the Legislature was putting this into action? No one voiced concern back then...just another example of how vicious and cruel our lawmakers can be...it's hard enough being a teacher now, I just got my paycheck and as hard as it was to live on what I bring home, has gotten even harder- my take-home pay went down almost 200.00, and with insurance premiums/co-pays about to go up even more, it's just not worth being a teacher anymore in ALabama. God forbid the lawmakers take a pay cut, or do their job for free, which is what they seem to expect us teachers to do. This state is broke, and what's the solution??? Take more out of the working people!!! I bet if they cut off welfare- food stamps, WIC, Section 8, they would be rioting in the streets! The lawmakers should hang their head in shame, we'll remember this at election time, trust me...the lawmakers in this state's days are numbered...

This is bull mularky. The dept of ed. just cut over a 1000 teachers. How can a thousand teachers retiring have any effect on the schools? Just re-hire all those you cut. This is so stupid. Does somebody make this stuff up?

I say let them retire - although I think the retirement should be changed to 30-35 years instead of 25 years.

Like this disgusting state gives a hoot about their children's education. This is the worst state of any when it comes to cutting the school's budget and spending money on issues that are not important. Alabama likes to keep their people uneducated, poor and powerless.

This legislature is an embarassment to the State of Alabama. Vote all of them out and lets start all over. Their attacks on Educators was unprecidented, their narrow minded view of what alabama is and needs is based on a self serving doctrine of hatred, whether that be Organized Labor groups or People of Color.. Lets rid ourselves of this embarassment

Sounds like a great way to hire the unemployed teachers that are in teh County and elsewhere. let them retire!