Altered KPERS Rules a Concern for Kansas Schools

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) – Education authorities are raising concerns about new rules for the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System that they say could discourage retirees from teaching in Kansas classrooms.

Under former rules, a teacher or school administrator could retire, draw a KPERS benefit and work full time for a new school district or his or her same school district.

The Hutchinson News reports (http://bit.ly/1Sxy7ru ) that new legislation changes working-after-retirement rules for KPERS participants and is expected to have the most impact on schools, particularly teachers and administrators who retire and return to work. The new rules have a $25,000 earnings limit per year.

Buhler USD 313 business manager Perry McCabe and Gene A. Buie, executive director of United School Administrators of Kansas, anticipate teacher shortages in Kansas if schools can’t hire retirees.
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Information from: The Hutchinson (Kan.) News, http://www.hutchnews.com