EARLY RETIREMENT BILL LIKELY TO BOOST EDUCATOR FAIR

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 1996

Fairbanks, Alaska - Fifteen to 20 Alaskan school districts will be participating in the Alaska Educators Summer Job Fair July 29 through Aug. 1 at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

The large number of districts attending the fair is due in part to the passage of the Early Retirement Incentive Program bill, according to Marge Heath, with UAF's Alaska Teacher Placement (ATP) office, sponsor of the job fair. Heath says the retirement bill is expected to open several positions for educators this fall and impact job fairs offered next spring.

The recruitment fair is the third in a series of job placement opportunities offered this year for educators looking for professional opportunities and school administrators looking for teachers.

District representatives will be interviewing candidates for current and anticipated openings for the upcoming school year and providing information about their districts.

The fair offers educators an avenue to employment and provides an opportunity to learn more about the state's educational system. About 150 to 200 participants are expected to attend, many of them traveling to Fairbanks from the Lower 48 and Canada.

"We have registrants who are looking for the unique opportunity to teach in the Bush and we have Bush schools looking for qualified teachers. The job fair is an opportunity to bring everyone together to one place," said Heath.

The ATP registration fee of $95 includes attendance at the summer job fair.

CONTACT: Marge Heath, Alaska Teacher Placement, (907) 474-6644

JCS/7-24-96/97-007