TAMIU graduates finding it difficult to secure teaching jobs: WIll buyouts help?

Laredotejas previously reported that for at least the last couple of years, there have been very few new teachers  hired by both school districts. The situation has only been exacerbated by the projected budget cuts which have led to hiring freezes at both LISD and UISD.

Both local school districts are now in process of offering early retirement incentives, usually reffered to as buyouts, to qualified employess. A total of 70 employees have signed up for the offer at UISD which is for substantially less than the option LISD is providing. While UISD personell qualify for a maximum of $1,000 to retire early, LISD is offering amounts equalling 15 percent of base pay. This means a teacher making $50,000 annually would get $7,500. Their plans are to award buyouts to a  maximum of 600 employees, including 300 teachers. The caveat at LISD is that employees would not be eligible to return to the district for a period of 5 years.

All of these developments will no doubt be perceived as positive by those wishing to become teachers in the future. Of course, it remains to be seen whether the buyouts will open up enough teaching positions as to allow both districts to rescind the hiring freezes now in place. In the meantime, graduates of TAMIU's teaching program continue to struggle. Some have decided to extend their studies, others have found it necessary to continue as school paraprofessionals and some have even left town in search of opportunies.

This last decade has seen the educational job market in Laredo make a complete 180 degree turn; from critical teacher shortages to the virtual disappearance of job openings for Laredo's educators. Let's hope this starts to turn around (again) soon.