The San Diego teachers union struck a deal with the San Diego Unified School District to offer more than 600 veteran teachers extra money to retire early. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis hasa more.
The early retirement plan, commonly referred to as a Golden Handshake, is used by districts to help save money by hiring new, less experienced workers at a lower-pay scale.
The deal typically targets veteran teachers but the district expanded it to include most veteran school workers.
Teachers union leaders were holding out in hopes of the district agreeing to apply any savings to the salaries of existing teachers. That's because San Diego teachers are poorly paid.
It's unclear whether that is part of the deal. District officials are not commenting on plan until union leaders meet with all of its members about the terms of plan.
The early retirement plan is the latest way the district is looking to plug a mutli-million dollar state budget shortfall next school year. The deal could save the district up to $12 million.
Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
