Lafayette teachers leaving the classroom early

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - The school year hasn't ended yet, but more Lafayette Parish school system teachers are leaving the classroom early based on the number of resignations and retirements logged through mid-March.

In the first six months of the school year, at least 130 Lafayette Parish school system teachers resigned, with the majority citing relocation, transfers, jobs outside of teaching or teaching conditions as the reasons for their departure.

Bruce Leininger, the district's human resources director, tells The Advocate the figure is nearly four times the number who resigned during the same time frame last year.

In addition, Leininger says 69 teachers as of March 19 had either retired or submitted retirement papers for exits effective through June - and more are expected before the school year ends.