Calgary's public school board – poised to lay off dozens of new teachers – is suggesting they take jobs in China and South Korea.

The school board is grappling with a $61.7 million budget shortfall and plans to eliminate 331 full-time jobs, including 172 teaching jobs, to save money.

The Calgary Board of Education (CBE) has found teaching jobs in South Korea and China and is offering teachers facing layoffs the opportunity to take a leave of absence for one or two years.

"It doesn't count for their service with the CBE, but as long as the experience that they're obtaining overseas requires a teacher to have certification, then it counts in their years of experience when they return," said the board's Karen Demassi, who works in human resources.

The laid off teachers will be the first considered for jobs when the board is hiring again, she said.

"We want to retain as many staff as we possibly can and by finding them alternative opportunities we're hoping that they'll gain additional experience and bring that back to the Calgary Board of Education and make our school board stronger."

The board will also use some laid off teachers as substitutes, while school districts in northern Alberta are looking for administrators.

Teachers' association applauds move

"I do applaud them for coming up with the ideas that they've come up with I think in the end we all wish that we didn't have to think quite so creatively," said Jenny Regal, president of Calgary local of the Alberta Teachers' Association.

Eventually the school board will need teachers back so it's important to try to retain them, she said.

Trustees are expected to pass the final budget for the 2011-2012 school year, which includes job cuts, at the end of June.