OPINION — Why should a teacher retire at the age of 50?

6/14/07

Dear Governor Spitzer, County, and New York State Representatives,

Thank you for adding funds to the education portion of the state budget. Your efforts are to be commended. The kids in school will benefit, as well as the local school taxpayers.

Before you were elected, I suggested that teachers with a minimum 25 years of service, and minimum age 50, (25/50) to be eligible to retire from teaching. That would be a good retirement incentive that many high paid teachers with 29 years of experience would consider a real incentive. Bailiffs, state troopers, firemen, sherifs, can retire at any age with just 20 years of service. Why the disparity?

Most teachers start their careers at age 21, right out of teacher colleges. By age 50, they have earned 29 years of service. I started at age 21, and will have 33 years of service at the end of this school year in June at age 54. I have always questioned the state legislature's reasoning to force teachers to work for 30 years, and also be age 55 (30/55) before they can earn a full retirement, without any pension calculations penalties. If a teacher only has 27 years at age 55, there may be a pension calculation penalty, therefore the teacher has to work until age 57 to avoid any reduction in pension.

I think many career teachers like myself, would jump on the opportunity to retire with 25 years of service at age 50. You may know that being a teacher in a classroom for 25-30 years is the most noble and helpful professions in the world. At age 50, many teachers have 29 years in the classroom with kids.

I hope you and the legislature can manage to pass a bill to allow teachers to retire with a minimum 25 years, and minimum age 50.

The number of teachers retiring would allow younger teachers to be hired, at half the pay of 25 year veteran teachers, and save the local taxpayers enormous amounts in school taxes, and also reduce the state budget.

I hope you can gather support for a 25/50 state teachers retirement (NYSTRS) incentive, since the state civil service employee retirement (ERS) system enjoys a retirement plan, that already allows state troopers, firemen, sheriffs, and bailiffs, to reap a 20 year retirement plan at any age.

Why the retirement plan disparity between the ranks, when teachers have just as much stress, and responsibility nowadays as bailiffs.

I hope to hear from you on this, or see a teacher retirement incentive.

I am sure many teachers will be writing to you as their elected representatives to discuss the above proposal with the retirement system boards on retirement incentives.

Regards,
Joe Leogrande
161 East Genesee Street
Auburn, NY 13021