The increase in beginning teacher salaries passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Baldacci is a nice idea. However, as a teacher of 15-plus years, I am not sure that will be enough to keep people in the profession.

Maybe fixing the “retirement cliff” created by Gov. McKernan or increasing the percentage of the health benefit paid by the state to equal that of a state employee’s would be more of an incentive. And certainly doing something about the regulations that affect Social Security and Maine state retirement benefits (WPO) would be an added bonus.

Josephine Wade

Orono