Also, during the same four-year period, the average pension of a retired teacher increased from $21,012 to $29,182 - a leap of 38.88%.

What's different between the number of retirements over the past four years compared to 1990s when the average was 1,840 per year? Clearly, it is the alternative retirement plan for teachers which was enacted in 2000 (Ch. 114), and became effective for those who retired after July 1, 2001.

Coined RetirementPlus by the Mass. Teachers' Retirement Board (MTRB), the new law allowed teachers the option of receiving an extra two percent toward their pension for each year of creditable service from 25 to 30 years, or, in other words, an additional 12% for those 6 years. In order to be eligible, a teacher must contribute 11% toward their pension for at least 5 years and work a minimum of 30 years in public service, with 20 years in teaching.

RetirementPlus is mandatory for all teachers who were hired after July 1, 2001. Teachers who were employed before July 1, 2001 were given the option of joining the plan. The deadline for making that decision was the same July 1.

Those, who had reached 30 or more years of service in 2001, were allowed to retroactively pay an amount equal to a full five years' contribution of 11% and retire after that July 1 with the extra 12%. If a teacher elected into RetirementPlus, they could not revoke it later.

A number of teachers, retiring during that four-year period, did not enroll in RetirementPlus. Many had over 30 years service and chose to reach their maximum pension without paying for the extra benefit. Others retired with less than 30 years service and, therefore, were not eligible. But approximately 60% of those pensioned during that period were RetirementPlus retirees and the number appears to be increasing.

The PERAC January 1, 2005 report did not include teachers who retired since that date. In its fall publication, the Teachers' Retirement Board said that 3,532 teachers retired in the past school year. Most of these would have been June 2005 retirees. Over 60% of these teachers were RetirementPlus retirees.

Another key provision of Chapter 114 was the ability of teachers to buyback and receive creditable service for maternity leave. Only leave taken prior to 1975 can be purchased. In order to qualify for the buyback a teacher must have been a member of the retirement system prior to 1975 and be vested. Previously, only teachers vested after 1975 were allowed this benefit.

Catherine Penn, retired Revere teacher, was among the first to take advantage of RetirementPlus. She was age 62, with 27 years of service, and a "prime candidate" for the new option.

"I had taken time off earlier in my career when I became a mother. In 2001, I was facing several more years of teaching in order to reach the 80% maximum pension," she explained.

"I was a prime candidate for RetirementPlus. I could buy four years maternity leave credit at the same time, bringing me to 31 years, which is more than I needed (30) to receive the extra 12% under the plan. It cost about $16,000, but it brought me to 80%.

"It was a perfect fit for me. I don't know of anyone who bought into RetirementPlus and retired who didn't think it was well worth the price."

While, cost wise, RetirementPlus was a good fit for recent retirees, there have been complaints from newly hired teachers that feel an 11% contribution is a bit high.

Bob Cole, a retired Whitman Hanson High School teacher, agrees that 11% is a "pretty steep hit" on the paychecks of new teachers.

"Teachers coming into the profession today are better prepared professionally than in earlier times. A lot more is expected of them," Cole said. "Their paychecks starting out are very small to begin with. When taxes and insurance are withheld, another 11% on top is a pretty steep hit for a new teacher."

The Teachers' Board also noted that many more retiring educators chose Option B and C because, effective July 1, 2004, the Governor and Legislature approved changing the factors used in the determination of those benefits, making them much more favorable to the retiree.