With schools opening next week across Alabama, many districts are still trying to fill jobs — and new retirement data show they are continuing to lose experienced employees at an elevated rate. The Retirement Systems of Alabama recorded 3,450 retirements tied to local school systems during the year ending June 30. That equals 3.45 retirements for every 100 certified and support full-time-equivalent positions reported by school systems. SEE THE DATA: Alabama Daily News created an interactive dashboard where readers can view retirement totals and rates for each school system for 2015–16 through 2025–26. “However, many of the employees had reached retirement age but decided to stay one more year, which in turn raised our numbers this year as well.”