The program was created to match veteran teachers with uncertified colleagues in the hope that a legacy of teaching could be passed on.

We have great veteran teachers and a very talented group of new teachers coming in.

In addition, Randolph lost three assistant principals, and many veteran teachers retired or transferred.

"Because of the additional dollars you can attract people," he said, adding that the higher pay might also keep more veteran teachers from leaving.

There was some improvement at P.S. 111 this year, and that, too, says a lot about the need to hold on to veteran teachers.

That, she said, has led veteran teachers who once routinely worked past retirement age to retire as soon as they can.

She said it gave bigger raises to less experienced teachers and lower ones to veteran teachers than the union's proposal did.

The city will continue to lose new and veteran teachers to the suburbs unless long-term housing incentives are created.

Many veteran teachers who worked with balanced literacy before its adoption citywide say positive things about it.

Even veteran teachers need time, that is, preparation periods, to deal with the overwhelming demands made by the school system.