Much of spending on retirees goes toward special ed

IN THESE challenging fiscal times, it is true that the Boston Public Schools must take a hard look at our spending on contracts with retired educators, and we have begun to do just that ("Schools spend $1m to rehire retirees," City & Region, May 8).

What the reporter failed to capture is the significant challenge that Boston and school districts across the country face regarding a shortage of qualified educators to provide special education services to our most vulnerable students. Nearly one-quarter of the spending on retirees provides students with disabilities an array of services mandated by state and federal law. We are working with colleges and universities to strengthen the pipeline of special education teachers and specialists, but despite these efforts, the demand for special education teachers continues to exceed the supply.

We are fortunate to have a cadre of skilled, experienced educators who are willing to come back part time to help meet these students' needs. We must devise a long-term plan to address the shortage of special education teachers, but in the meantime, we must rely on a variety of strategies to deliver the services to which our students are entitled.

CAROL R. JOHNSON, Superintendent
Boston Public Schools