No forest, we don't have to pay higher salaries. Comparable would be nice.

NSSD112Students&ParentsforTeachers:

Well this petition you keep pushing does not seem to be taking off. 25 signatures versa about 150,000 for a dunkin donuts and disney lunch box item on the same petition forum. Perhaps the students and parents are all for committed teachers and kids but not a strike? Since you have this petition, what do you define as a "fair" contract? Is it give anything they want? Do we have any right to have performance expectations of the teachers? Can we evaluate and grade them and then pay the top performers a lot of money? What can we do for the teachers that might fail or not have the fire and passion anymore?

Can you tell me any other job that pays this well for working 9 months out of the year and you can retire after 20 years and get 75-90% of you last 3 years salary? They are upset at increased health care costs? Welcome to the real world.

I think teachers should be paid well, but this is getting out of hand! Anyone else upset that they only would get a cost of living increase and compensation for higher health care costs at their job? Maybe we should all go on strike due to the outrageous taxes we pay!

"The money is there … it just depends on how you look at the future," Kramer said. "Do you look at it as doom and gloom? The economy is getting better." Really, please take off your rose colored glasses and see the real world!

Thank you, Mark Stein, for clarifying this in direct and simple terms, once again, for Mr. Greenberg!
Good Grief!
Teachers are NOT ASKING for anything other than what WAS PROMISED to them in writing by way of signed approvals PRIOR to taking any single course.

Lila, I don't know what your most current reply is responding to - maybe it's the thread below where I say that I UNDERSTAND that the teachers on the jpg flyer are complaining about not being paid for taking some course that they had approvals for beforehand - that's a CONTRACTUAL dispute between those teachers and the District.

In clear and simple and direct terms - my comments regarding the payment for continuing education by teachers is the CONCEPT that the taxpayers ought not to pay for any of it. Going forward - no automatic step raises should be granted, no automatic 'lane change' raises should be granted, no partial or full payments for taking any courses.

Agreed!

David: what part of "Teachers have spent thousands of dollars on advanced courses that were approved by the district (as were their salary lane changes). Now District 112 does not want to allow these teachers to change lanes or pay them for their coursework." do you not understand? The courses get approved in advance, teachers enroll and pay the tuition, and because of that approval, expect the lane change / salary increase -- Read it again -- TEACHERS Pay for the approved courses themselves!

Lila, I understand it completely. The teachers have a contractual dispute with the District in that they either want to change lanes or get paid for the coursework.

But that dispute notwithstanding, they are still asking for money for courses they took - so they can either get reimbursed for some amount, or get a higher salary. So essentially, we, the taxpayers are paying for those courses that someone took, so they can get a higher salary. It's a rip off.

No, you simply refuse to understand. Teachers were told that they would be reimbursed for courses, or allowed to use the credits for lane advancement, BEFORE they signed up for them.

Now, the District wants to renege on that promise.

Mark: That's not true - I DO UNDERSTAND. I DO know what they were told BEFORE they signed up for the courses. What's happening now is a contractual dispute between the District and those teachers.

What I'm referring to is the overall CONCEPT of the District paying for courses taken by teachers.

Keep saying the same thing over and over again, Dave. Maybe at some point you will be correct.

Walter, I haven't said anything that's incorrect. So I don't know what you're talking about.

HP is the cream of the crop.. It doesn't get better than this district for teachers. It will never be a starter district b/c we have some of the highest paid teachers in the state.

Oh we value continuing education in teachers - just as many of us do in our own professional lives. But WE pay for our continuing education out of our salaries. The teachers should too - for us to contribute to their continuing education, and then also reward them with a higher salary is disingenuous - no actually, I'm going to go so far and say it's literally ripping off the taxpayer, and it's got to stop.

If a teacher wants to continue their education - that's fine. IF their PERFORMANCE increases as a result, we'll consider them for a raise, out of the fixed pool of funds available for raises. But no more automatic raises, no more guaranteed raises, no more COLA raises. Just like the private sector - you perform better, you get considered for a bigger raise - you might, or might not get it.

Once again Mr. Greenberg has got his facts wrong -- tuition is NOT paid for by the district & if any reimbursement is made, then NO salary movement occurs. Teachers also pay for their advanced education out of their own salaries!

Lila: I said "CONTRIBUTE" to their continuing education.

Also, what you're claiming about teachers paying for their advanced education out of their own salaries would seem to be contradicted by this flyer which was put out by the NSEA (D112 Teachers Union).

http://district112teachers.org/informational-flyers/september-16-english/

In particular, these portions:

"Continuing Education:

* Teachers have spent thousands of dollars on advanced courses that were approved by the district (as were their salary lane changes). Now District 112 does not want to allow these teachers to change lanes or pay them for their coursework.

* One District 112 teacher spent thousands of dollars on approved coursework, and earned an endorsement which allows her to teach ELL students. The district is refusing to allow her the lane change, though they have added ELL students to her student caseload. District 112 is benefiting from the thousands she spent on continuing education w/o paying for the coursework or allowing her the salary lane change."

You mean you don;t like the wimpy gov. we have now? The lack of funds to pay teacher pensions is a bubble that is going to burst!

There's nothing saying that we MUST have a contract with teachers, or a union for that matter.

You mean other than their legally protected right to organize? Yeah, I suppose you're right. If you honestly think firing all the teachers and hiring new ones is in the best interest of any school district, you're even more clueless than you've shown up to this point. So say you do that and the ones you hire decide to organize....fire them too? You have absolutely no clue what you're talking about.

There's absolutely NO reason why public sector employees should have the right to unionize (and FDR would agree with me). In fact, it was against the law until some fools in NY came up with a sneaky way to allow them to do so. The reasons why Public Sector unionization is a bad idea is outside the scope of this discussion.

But yes, any of them want to go on strike? Fine. That's their right. But it's also OUR right to have our kids in school. So rather than fooling around with teachers who are trying to use our kids as leverage against us in a contract negotiation, we'll just replace those individuals with persons who think our offerings are acceptable.

If the ones that we hire as replacements want to organize - fine. But if they choose to strike, or ask for unreasonable things (raises in an economy where the majority don't get raises), or don't want to accept pay for performance? Fine - we'll replace them too. No problem.

Once again, you are theoretically elegant, but in practice, relatively meaningless.

Sorry Walter, but I beg to differ that the thought of hiring replacements for strikers is relatively meaningless. In fact, quite the opposite. In years past, the Public had no real appetite for hiring replacements because the tax burden, albeit somewhat high, wasn't overly burdensome. Flash forward to the Present: Investments are down, people aren't making as much money, the Springfield Brain Trust raised taxes 67% and still hasn't solved the problems they promised to, pension responsibilities might get shifted to the local taxpayers, etc., etc.

People all over are looking at what Teachers Unions are demanding and saying "Ummm, no." So there's a great appetite to dig in and do what's necessary to hold the line. If that means replacing strikers - it'll likely happen.

And far from being meaningless - it should hold great meaning for the Unions. They're not going to get the Public to simply roll over and accept their demands or their threats. So they need to really take a step back and say "This would be nice, but it's never going to happen in this environment, and we need to wait it out like the rest of the Country.

If they think the economy is coming back in a short period, let them negotiate a shorter term. But they better not come back at the end and pull a "Lake Forest" where they claim they need a bigger raise to make up for the previous concession.

And somehow strikes in Chicago and Lake Forest were effective in getting deals done.

I don't really think you can draw the conclusion that the strikes were effective in getting deals done. Chicago:The Union and the City both knew that they were running up against the "grandma" patience time-the concept being that many of the families with kids not in school sent them to grandma's house, and grandma would only be able to deal with the zaniness for a week or so. With Chicago, you also have to factor in the National political stage-during an election year, they didn't want to irk what's traditionally a large voting bloc around the country, yet didn't want to irk the rest of the City. It remains to be seen how it's all going to be paid for-somehow, I think that a property tax increase will drive even more people out of the City, thereby exacerbating the issues they currently have.

As for Lake Forest-so far as I know, the Public hasn't yet seen the deal, so we don't know what was negotiated. What I do know is that the 'burbs make more than their counterparts in CPS AND they don't get shot at, beaten up, or robbed (if at all, at least not as often) up here, so the entire "striking Lake Forest" teachers thing was looked upon as gluttons wanting ever more. Once again, we'll find out what happened there in due time.

I've talked to a lot of people in HP, and they've all said "We've never had a strike because the Board's a bunch of wimps and gives the teachers everything they want. Enough is enough. It's gotta stop." So we'll see what happens in HP.

Because people in the park district are more frugal with their money. More departments should be run like the park district.

Somehow spending $850K on a boardwalk, and a few hundred thousand more on an unwanted IC doesn't seem frugal to me.

Appreciate and understand your comments as I too have a daughter that just entered Middle School and one in Pre School. She had a couple of great teachers with only one in early elementary that she did not care for based on obvious bias and favoritism. I also agree with the higher education et al as it relates to specialists such as reading specialist and pull out but it makes little difference relative to the commitment and ability of the teacher on a front line position.
The Standards, Tests and Syllabus determine what is to be taught and it is the ability and commitment of the teacher to connect, create interest, excitement, to engage the student that ultimately determines the knowledge and personal impact they impart unto their student. That cannot be taught in higher education classes just as it cannot be taught in life. Passion, commitment and drive are the intangibles that separate the great from the good.

As to a “new” teacher, perhaps they just need to get their legs under them or perhaps they have not taught in this environment before as I can imagine dealing with some parents and students could be quite the challenge.

Finally, I support wholeheartedly a strong education system in Highland Park as it is a primary reason we choose to live here. I also support reasonable salaries and even higher salaries if indeed the system works both ways allowing us to truly evaluate the teacher’s effectiveness and to tie it to that performance.

Obviously since you used the world alot instead of a lot you didn't yourself have a very good education. Hope your daughter gets a better one.

Sometimes kids agree with other kids because they don't have the confidence to voice another opinion. As much as your straw poll suggests the 'new' teacher is the least liked, I am confident that if you were to ask an 8th grade student, they would more than likely express disdain for at least one or two tenured teachers.

Bob:

Not sure whom this is directed at? "Obviously since you used the world alot instead of a lot you didn't yourself have a very good education. Hope your daughter gets a better one." If it was me, I stand corrected...darn Dyslexia! I also always write form instead of from:( But, wait.....what is that 6th word in your sentence? World or Word? Guess it happens to all of us:)

BTW: She is getting a much better education!!!!!!

There's nothing wrong with a Master's or beyond - but expecting the taxpayers to pay for that continuing education is ridiculous. Right now we kick in money toward the continuing education - so consider that a 'raise' of sorts to the salary we already generously provide. Then as they progress through the degree, they hit certain milestones that give them another bump in salary (double-dipping?). Then when they get the degree, they get another bump in salary.

And as the years tick by, they get a raise just for being on the job (what the Union calls a "Step" raise). Triple dipping.

If they serve on a Committee - we pay them another $45/hr for the time they serve on the committee. If they chair the Committee - we pay them another $60/hr for the time they serve. In the private sector-your boss says "Hey, you're going to be on/chair this or that" and you go do it w/o extra pay. Why should this job be any different?

The salaries are already too high, and enough is enough. If someone is a top performer, we should consider them for a raise, but just like the private sector, it shouldn't be a guaranteed raise.

If teachers want to spend money on continuing education-let them. There may even be tax benefits that they can avail themselves of to offset some of that cost.

Also, we have to consider maintenance/infrastructure needs for now and the future-not everything can go toward salaries.

If the union wants to strike-let them. Then hire replacements immediately.

Once again Mr. Greenberg has got his facts wrong -- tuition is NOT paid for by the district & if any reimbursement is made, then NO salary movement occurs.
"kicking in toward continuing ed" is incorrect and once again, bad info! Check your facts before you post! Are you sure you're looking at 112's salaries by the way? and not 113's -- HUGE difference.

Lila, Yes, I am looking at D112's salaries, and not D113. I've gone through the D112 contract before it ended and made a presentation to the Board regarding the benefits contained therein.

Regarding Continuing Education, here's a snippet from the NSEA flyer:

"Continuing Education:

* Teachers have spent thousands of dollars on advanced courses that were approved by the district (as were their salary lane changes). Now District 112 does not want to allow these teachers to change lanes or pay them for their coursework.

* One District 112 teacher spent thousands of dollars on approved coursework, and earned an endorsement which allows her to teach ELL students. The district is refusing to allow her the lane change, though they have added ELL students to her student caseload. District 112 is benefiting from the thousands she spent on continuing education w/o paying for the coursework or allowing her the salary lane change."

So the Union seems to be complaining that the District didn't pay for coursework.

Lila, I dug out my copy of the contract that covers this year. Page 24, Article 8 "Professional Growth", Item 8.1A "Approval of Credits":

"1. Beginning July 1, 1999, six (6) out of any fifteen (15) semester hour credits earned and applied to movement on the salary schedule may be earned through inservice courses approved, in advance, by the Superintendent.

2. All graduate credits, CPDUs, or CEUs, earned through accredited colleges or universities, or through district approved inservice programs or workshops may, at the teacher's choice, either be applied to advancement on the existing salary schedule or reimbursed through a one-time payment of $300 per semester hour (or cost, if lower) with a maximum of $1,200 per year available to each employee in any single year (defined as July 1 through June 30). All courses approved shall be a minimum of three (3) semester hours, unless otherwise approved by the Districts curriculum administrator. The teacher shall make a choice at the time he/she submits a course approval form to the Superintendent. Once the course has been approved the choice cannot be changed.

3. A semester hour of credit for inservice programs shall be defined as fifteen (15) hours of class work or its equivalent. The value assigned to each inservice course shall be stipulated at the time of approval."

Article 16. Insurance.

"16.1 Insurance. The Board shall, for each teacher (except those subject to 16.2 below) pay an amount equal to 100% of the premiums for $75,000 term life insurance (including [acc. death and dismem.]), individual dental insurance coverage and individual health insurance coverage. In addition, the Board shall contribute an amount toward Family PPO health insurance coverage equal to ... 25% of the premiums for 2011-2012. Teachers who elect to opt out of health insurance coverage shall be entitled to a $100 payment in any year for which they opt out during the period of annual open enrollment, except for mid-year hires who may opt out at the time of employment. The board shall not change health insurance carriers or substantially change its health insurance plan during the term of this Agreement [w/o] the Association's consent. In exchange for such consent, the parties recognize that once a carrier is approved by the [sic] both parties, the carriers themselves may implement changes to which the parties shall be bound unless mutually agreed otherwise. Upon notice of any such changes from the carrier, the parties agree to discuss such changes by means of an insurance committee.

16.2 Part-time Teachers. All part-time teachers who are employeed less than [50%] time shall not receive Board contributions toward insurance. All part-time teachers who are employeed [50%] or more shall receive the full Board contribution for insurance... in 16.1

So, David now you should FULLY understand that teachers do NOT get reimbursement for costs of courses and tuition AND salary lane changes contrary to what you seem to be interpreting.
The majority, per the contract terms, opt to have courses approved in advance and then are acknowledged / compensated for their advanced degrees by way of a lane change but NOT both - again, per the terms of the contract.
If you consider that as the district paying for the teachers' tuition then so be it but you are stretching the way it actually works, which is the way it works in almost all suburban districts.
Places like Deerfield 109 next door, actually do reimburse for tuition and honor lane changes...

Lila: "So, David now you should FULLY understand that teachers do NOT get reimbursement for costs of courses and tuition AND salary lane changes contrary to what you seem to be interpreting."

Lila, I've said several times that the District CONTRIBUTES to the costs for courses, etc. Whether we pay out that money as a "stipend" or through an increased salary, the taxpayers are still technically reimbursing someone for taking classes, and yes, in my mind it's ripping off the taxpayers. We pay for some portion of the courses, they either take it back as cash or a lane change that results in a higher salary. And as a higher salary, they take more course and get an ever higher salary just for taking those courses (yeah yeah, they have to get a certain grade, but for the sake of discussion, let's assume that they're going to hit their mark). WE, the taxpayers are paying those teachers to take courses throughout their career. Whether they performed better as a result of taking the course or not - and that's wrong.

If they perform better, consider them for a raise. Otherwise, why should we be asked to give them more money for taking classes?

I agree 1000%! If they don't like the rich pay they now receive, they should seek employment elsewhere.

When is enough enough? The pension deficit is going to be a killer!

Very few private companies can afford to pay pensions. It seems like only the public sector can.
Originally, pensions made up for a lack of pay. That is not the case any more. We cannot afford to give pensions any more. Public employees should have a 401k plan and invest in it like we all do. Politicians work one term and get their salaries forever! Guess who voted that in?

Susan:

Given that your husband was (or does) work in CPS, and your children received their education in the District, I find it slightly hypocritical that you have issues with teacher pay. District 112 has been badly managed since its formation. Most of that is becasue of political influences such as the community being unwilling to endure a strike or change boundaries, so we support 12 school buildings, if you include the Administrative Center. There is too much administration in the district and, personally, I would like to see the District address that first. The teachers have come to the table with ideas, such as reducing the insurance costs, and the District has not been willing to engage them in discussion. Governance by fiat is no way to solve problems.

I agree Susan. Too bad most people think the union should get whatever they want. The last contract was a fiasco. Taxpayers are now paying for health insurance for a teacher's family. Once you give these perks its hard to take them back especially with a school board made up of left wingers.

So, let's try again, folks.

My daughter teaches in CPS. She is paid better there than she would have been in 112, when all is factored in. Yes, her workload is greater, since the schools are horribly understaffed. One of her colleagues, who also grew up in the North Shore has a primary class with 36 students and no aide. Thank g-d we don't have that here.

My point is not that the Union should get everything they want. I didn't support much of what the CTU was asking for, and certainly not what Lake Forest teachewrs struck for, which was only about money. However, when they talk about class size, planning time and ither resources, we need to listen. These have a direct impact on student's ability to learn.

District 112 needs to start with their administration first. We have administrators we don't really need and some of those we do need have housing allowances and cars. For a long time, the HR head was a former educator as opposed to a much less expensive HR executive.

Previous boards, and probably this one, do not lead. 20 years ago we suggested re-aligning schools so that we only needed to add to 2 buildings and could have re-built Lincoln and Oak Terrace. Bowing to pressure from residents, the Board chose the most expensive option of improving 10 schools. The 11th was improved 2 years later.

My kids are grown and I believe it is in my best interest to support the schools. While that does not mean giving the Unions carte blanche, it also does not mean that the Board can balance their books on the backs of their teachers or demonize them. Anymore than a CEO deserves 10M per year while the employees of a company earn minimum wage.

Walter it is because my husband was in the CPS system for 36 years is why I (we) have these opinions. The differences in work loads, working conditions, pay and benefit structures are staggering between CPS and District 112. They are totally incomparable. And to say that because my children were educated here makes me a hypocrite? We chose to live here in 1976, 16 years prior to our twin's births, and that decision had absolutely nothing to do with the local schools!I I know our children would have done well no matter which district we chose to live within. And, as you, I did address the administration as top-heavy. That is where the first reductions, if any, must take place. I do wish every classroom teacher and licensed support staff the highest salaries that they can attain....however....as I said....a one year contract should be implemented so that we all can see where the state and this economy takes us. So Walter, I think you will now agree, that we are on the same page in some of these matters. I am appalled and disgusted that you so of-handedly call me a hypocrite when you have no firsthand knowledge nor experience with CPS workings nor our family.

Dave:

Did you upgrade your auto stickers?

Catch 22, for all that say our property values will decrees if we don’t pay the teachers more, Home values and property tax bills are stopping most first time buyers with kids already. Plus that is just a stupid and selfish way to look at this.

We have one child at Sherwood elementary, and one at Elm Place. The time for bowing down to the teachers unions specifically the IEANEA and NEA is over.
They wield political power - hold children hostage to their union interests - block meaningful reforms - and squeeze ever more money out of the public purse. They are increasingly threatening the solvency of state and local governments. The teacher unions are monopoly unions in a monopoly industry with captive customers.
So you might say we will be on the picket line, only I will be on the Kids and the tax payers side.

This is the garbage they are pushing on their site “We are deeply concerned that District 112 will become known as one of the worst school districts on the North Shore in terms of teacher benefits, causing teachers to use District 112 as a stepping stone”. Anyone that knows dist. 112 knows this is where older teacher and principals go to bump there pay for retirement, not as a stepping stone.

NSSD112Students&ParentsforTeachers:

Well this petition you keep pushing does not seem to be taking off. 25 signatures versa about 150,000 for a dunkin donuts and disney lunch box item on the same petition forum. Perhaps the students and parents are all for committed teachers and kids but not a strike? Since you have this petition, what do you define as a "fair" contract? Is it give anything they want? Do we have any right to have performance expectations of the teachers? Can we evaluate and grade them and then pay the top performers a lot of money? What can we do for the teachers that might fail or not have the fire and passion anymore?

thank you so much for your comment!

Thank you Alexa for referencing how dangerous it can be for a CPS teacher. 30 (yes 30) years ago, after my husband tried ushering a 10 year old boy into the school building, he turned to my husband and said "you white-assed (blank blank). I make more money in a week watching the corner for my guys (drug dealers) than you make in a year. So don't tell me what to do!" Yes, 30 years ago. How many north shore teachers had to literally hold the doors closed against armed gangs? How many teachers have been robbed, beaten and worse just walking to their cars? And I believe the press consistently informs us that the violence is worse now than ever yet the teachers press on. Not much (thank goodness) to report on here.

we all have to learn to live within our means and not keep up with jones's, this should apply to everyone. while i appreciate and commend our teachers they are not above learning how to live within their means and benefits. it is reprehensible to be held hostage by the unions for the "sake of the children". really? are you kidding me? show your commitment to my children without dragging us into debt even more. enough already!

John:

You are absolutely correct that taxpayers should not "pop for new swimming pools." Instead, they should continue to pour money into 40 year old pools that have outlived their useful life. Just like we shouldnn't replace HVAC equipment thart, at least in one case, is over 60 years old.

You wouldn't take care of your house that way, so why should we treat these assets in the same manner?

The average teacher in the Highland Park ELEMENTARY / Middle School district (NSSD 112) does NOT make $100,000!
Period.

Average teacher pay in the district was reported at $70,566 on the 2011 School Report Cards, based on an average experience level of 11.5 years.

(As published in the HP Review on Sept. 18th)

Lila:
I would be happy to live on $70k per year while only working 9 months out of the year and still have vacation days, sick days, and other benefits afforded to me.

Alinsky's book is a primer for organizing. Conservatives, including the tea party, follow the same principles whether they know it or not.

Joe, very well said.
Mark, yes, EVERY political party organizes. However, for an organization to promote communist reading makes me wary. I think Unions have run their course. In the course of my work I see union employees getting away with things I could never get away with in my job. I hear a union steward telling people how they can best file their claim to get the most out of it. In addition, I hear union stewards telling employees to lie so that they can best get what they want. The inmates are running the asylum.

Actually, Alinsky was a community organizer who organized community groups that advocated for better city services. He worked in the Back of the Yards neighborhood and in Woodlawn. He explicitly rejected the communist party. In fact, he rejected joining any political party.

The NEA also recommends that everyone read "Getting to Yes," which espouses the principles of interest based problem solving. Everyone on this Board, including those who don't believe in compromise, might try reading that book.

Mark, Compromise is great. It is what makes up every relationship. But when is enough enough. With some unions it has become about bullying and not compromise. Do they see our tax bills? I cannot afford much more. I was born and raised in this town and I am nostalgic for it, but it is becoming much too expensive.

"Getting To Yes" is a good book, and so is the counterpart "Getting Past No", I've read them both. Since negotiations are a two-way street - what's our "golden bridge" going to be from the Union? They want us to come to them, we want them to come to us.

What do they have to offer during these trying economic times? And it better be worth the trip across the bridge - not some nonsense like "well, we'll accept a cut from what we want now, but in 2 years we want to be "made whole" and get it back plus add on more in a few years..." - for me, that's a faux gold bridge...

True. The teachers used part of their pay from the taxpayers to give to politicians in order to make their job positions impregnable. Now they have nothing to lose by striking. Rather churlish to use money from their community to screw their community, but it's "all for the children".

Why are you so sure that the Board in Lake Forest folded? All that you know right now is that the parties reached a tentative agreement on a new contract. That is how strikes end.

Has anyone who posts on the Patch ever heard of a compromise? I

Yes I have, compromising your principles, compromising your ethics, so many ways to compromise, but I would never choose to compromise future generation’s education.

Dam I had shut my computer down and was heading to bed, I look in on my ten year old, and all I could think was compromise no way… I will help you become a man, a man that cares for people that truly are in need. A man that stand on his own two feet. A man that understands the world around him is complex and every story has far more than one side,yes look at the other side. Good night.

One big problem these are the unions that bused there people up to Wisconsin to protest Walker. Illinois is fully in the strangle hold of big unions. From metropolitan pier to schools municipal and state workers this is the underbelly of the Democratic Party. Yes we need a Walker but first get rid of Mike Madigan.

Yep. The teachers used taxpayer money to buy our politicians. If the kids want a better education at a reasonable cost, then they better start giving tens of millions of dollars in campaign contributions.

Joe:

You are absolutely right as Madigan has a strangle hold on the state and it is all about taking care of his buddies, minions and unions that support and feed him and his crew. We are a state more corrupt than Russia, where at least it is in the open and nobody pretends it does not exist. Madigan is the Czar of much that is wrong here in Illinois as he and the unions feed at the same trough.

Without a major turnover in power within the State, nothing will change. These people and Unions will do everything in their power to maintain the status quo where they can take from the many to feed the few!

Sorry as I lose interest when people go off subject and usually the forum goes downhill at a certain stage and I exit. Seems I just went off topic so I am out of here:)

Thanks

Of course I comprehend the contract and the language. Anyone can read it for themselves

It's available for download here:

http://www.nssd112.org/pages/Northshore112/Departments/Personnel/Menu/Employee_Contracts

Look for the one marked "Certified Staff" - which is here:

http://www.nssd112.org/files/_TeKoW_/4de9167c867a7b643745a49013852ec4/NSEA_Employment_Contract.pdf

(but depending upon your browser, you might have to RIGHT-CLICK and do a SAVE AS or SAVE LINK AS to get the document on your hard drive - then you can view it with Adobe Reader, FoxIt, or some other PDF viewer.

I uploaded a copy of the contract to this article, but haven't seen it appear just yet.

My comment reads TEN years. 1.07 compounded for ten years is 1.9672. Sorry if you find simple math ignorant and disrespectful. Your comment lacks a question mark, a word, and a capitalization. Since you cannot read, write, or do arithmetic , I conclude that you are a victim of our public school system. My sympathy.

There isn't a single teacher in this state who makes $200,000 a year. There may be administrators who make this amount.

The current District business manager made over $350,000 a year in another District and then retired with a TRS pension. He is now working under a different pension system (IMRF).

I guess you don't know how to read a salary schedule but you sure do know how to blow facts out of proportion. Teacher pensions are based on a percentage. You can be loud, why can't you get it right? I checked - you shout out all over the place on teachers. I don't trash your job. Go sub for a while and then come back. At least you will have a vague idea of what goes on in classroom.

I'd have to go review the records before agreeing with you on your claim that no teacher makes $200K/yr. However, we have many in our area that approach that number. A recently retired Athletic Director in D113 made $160K/yr. Other PE teachers make over 6-figures as well.

Yes, I realize it's not D112 - but the fact is that the salaries/benefits demanded are unsustainable in the long-term. The benefits being demanded are rarely, if ever, offered in the Private Sector. And given that the salaries in the Public Sector approach and often exceed those of the Private Sector - why should we offer better benefits in the Public Sector than the Private Sector? The social compact used to be that because a public employee traded earning power and took a lower salary for the position, we'd reward their lower salary and civil service with a pension to take care of them in their old age. Now that the salaries aren't lower, that compact has been broken and it's time for Public employees to fund their own retirements. Raises need to be brought to heel as well, and based upon PERFORMANCE metrics that are fair and achievable (yes, they'll vary by class level too) - and the employee is going to have to realize that they may not get a raise every year. They're also going to have to pay for more of their own health care - just like the rest of us are doing now.

John, I agree it's totally insane. We need to move away from a Defined Benefit to a Defined Contribution - with two options: A) The teacher manages their own investments; B) The "Fund" manages the investments. Changes should be allowed once every 10 years. No guarantees as to value - may go up or down. May lose value.

And as their salary goes up - the taxpayer's contribution should decrease accordingly. When they're making $100K/yr, the taxpayers should contribute ZERO. When they're making under $50K/yr, OK, I'll bite and say that the 'social compact' about making less than in the private sector applies so we ought to contribute something - not the whole 9.4%, but something substantial.

TRS's assumptions of an 8% return are totally off-base as well. They need to be CONSERVATIVE, not aggressive with their predictions...

Sorry to say, after the election, our esteemed politicians are expected to start dumping pension payments on local school districts. Instead of pension reform, we will get another tax increase and more increases as far as the eye can see. Despite this, many teachers will have to be laid off and their salaries will increase from the 85% of the budget that they now hog. Class sizes will have to increase and student outcomes will continue to decline, but at a faster pace. But, what the heck! A drivers ed teacher SHOULD make $190,000/yr. District 15 just had a P.E. teacher retire with a salary of $203,000/yr and a pension of $150,000/yr. At a 5% cost of money, that pension has a lump sum value of $4 million dollars. Just like your 401k!