30 year higher paid teacher retires early to save jobs - 3 jobs saved [View All]

on edit: 3 teachers will be making 1/3rd the pay to do that same job.

Retirement helps halt Cumberland layoffs

Joe Astrouski
TOLEDO, Ill. (WTHI) - For more than 30 years, Tom Finley has taught at Cumberland Elementary School in Toledo, Ill., and has even taught the children of his former students.

He has relished the career and earned honors including News 10’s Golden Apple Award.

“I could have gone into other lines of work that would have paid more money, but not one of those jobs would have given me the fulfillment that teaching has,” Finley said.

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Despite his love of teaching, Finley offered to take an early retirement, hoping to prevent the layoffs.

The district accepted.

Since he had reached a high pay bracket through seniority, his retirement freed up enough money to pay two new teachers, district officials said, and three teachers’ jobs were saved. “This has been the right place for me,” Finley said. “I think this was my destiny.”

http://www.wthitv.com/dpp/news/illinois/retirement-helps-hault-cumberland-layoffs