I just got some updated numbers on how many teachers are taking the golden handshake, a bonus for employees who leave San Diego Unified this year. This is a key part of the schools’ budget-cutting strategy: The idea is to prod workers to leave so that jobs can be cut without layoffs. While the exit bonus is available to all kinds of San Diego Unified employees, teachers are the biggest group and whether they bite — or not — will be the key to whether the strategy works.
The magic number that San Diego is aiming for is 633 teachers. Their deadline to sign up is this Friday. And the current total is … (drum roll please) is 535 teachers as of this morning. More applications are likely to roll in because workers usually wait until the last few days to send in their paperwork.
Check back for more updates on the number of teachers signing up for the bonus soon.