Manitowoc Public Schools’ superintendent is asking state representatives to support a bill that would allow retired teachers to return to the classroom to help address the teacher shortage.
In a letter to State Representatives Paul Tittl and Shae Sortwell, as well as State Senators Andre Jacque and Devin LeMahieu, Superintendent Lee Thennes asks them to support Assembly Bill 196/Senate Bill 170, which would allow members of the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) to return to the public sector work without suspending their annuity.
Currently, teachers are limited to working a maximum of 800 hours without incurring a penalty.
Thennes says one example of how this is directly affecting the district happened when he was still principal of Lincoln High School, when they were short one English teacher.
“One of the very best English teachers that I ever worked with in my career, happened to be retired, and she did come back and help us out,” he explained. “But what was a shame, it she couldn’t help us out for the entire day. She could only teach a couple of classes.”
Thennes says he wants the Manitowoc County representatives to reconsider the bill after it was pulled from a committee before a vote.
He continues to explain in his letter that retired educators bring a wealth of experience and deep institutional knowledge, and districts across the state are relying on retired teachers with suspended WRS benefits to help fill hard-to-fill positions.
The bill does have some bipartisan support, but has not left the Wisconsin Assembly.
