Schools Exploring Effect of Early Retirement Bonus

As a possible cost-cutting measure, Los Angeles school officials are trying to determine how many teachers age 55 and older would retire by Feb. 1 if they received a $15,000 bonus.

The Los Angeles Unified School District held employee meetings Tuesday to gauge interest in the tentative plan to encourage retirement of older teachers, some of whom earn as much as $60,000 a year. The plan--which was suggested by the Los Angeles teachers union--must be approved by the school board.

District officials revealed last November that they had mistakenly hired 300 extra teachers, who by contract must be paid through June. Officials said they would save money by using younger, lower-paid teachers to replace retirees.