Lou where do you propose the money comes from? Perhaps if we did more to attract major businesses to HP to bring in revenue that would be possible.

I do agree with you on some points....however.....you are failing to point out that the "average" intelligence of a Highland Park student is well above "average" as usually are their parents. This certainly adds to a student's success!

There is a new evaluation standard - the state has implemented it for all districts. Older teachers who have valuable experience go back for training. New teachers have tools but quickly suffer burnout unless they receive support (check statistics). I think most of the teachers in this district work very hard to be the best that they can be. Our report card looks good.

And by what "standard" do you propose each teacher be measured, Bev? Do you think there is one piece of data by which we can effectively measure a teacher's excellence? One piece of data by which we can fairly determine who is a "good" teacher and who is not? A teacher's success is based on so many intricate factors, including the ability to create and develop meaningful and inspired relationships with each student year after year- the effectiveness of which is not necessarily determined by each student's academic success. Do you really believe the best path is to hire less-experienced, "less-expensive" teachers in lieu of maintaining experienced ones? "New" teachers fresh out of college do not automatically come with "greater educational tools;" the greatest educational tools come with experience and application. Do you really believe that a static measure of teacher success- something that is innately complex- should determine a teacher's quality of life and ability to support him or herself and family? Furthermore, who is qualified to determine this measure? Teachers become teachers for the love of children, growth and learning- it is a labor of love that takes hard work to achieve and relentless hard work to maintain. Real teachers wake up every morning with an enormous sense of responsibility and accountability, and go to work every day for each of their students, working hard to be the best they can be their entire career. Isn't that enough of a "stimulus?"

Absolutely. Perhaps the process can begin with cutting Dr. Behlow's earnings per year.

This inefficiency has been there since the days of the consolidation of the multiple districts (107, 108, 111) into 112. We really do need LESS buildings - not necessarily larger class sizes, but fewer buildings to own, operate, and maintain. Maybe ONE K-4 building where Indian Trail is. Maybe ONE 5-8 building where Northwood or Elm Place is.

But I've always said it's going to be a holy war when we consolidate buildings... Emotions run high when it involves a neighborhood school, and with finances the way they are, we're going to have to take a fresh look at things - salaries, infrastructure, administration.

And no, I don't propose giving ALL the savings to the teachers either. That'll just shift the problem to a new spot. Pay for performance - fair and achievable performance metrics, fixed pool of money for raises, and more cost sharing of health care costs are all needed.

https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110914/news/709149939/

Mohsin Dada/ Base Pay $160,000/TRS Contribution $19,500/Family Insurance $23,000/Disability $500
David Behlow/Base Pay $215,000/TRS Contribution $23,000/Annuity Payment $43,000/Mileage Reimbursement $7,000/ Additional Bonus$37,000/ TOTAL NSSD112 COST FOR ONLY TWO ADMINISTRATORS: $536,000.....WOW 536 thousand for 2 salaries in the district?

No wonder we're not hearing much from these two :)

Ernest, you just hit the problem right on the head. Maybe that would stop new homeowners from staying away from Red Oak school when looking for houses and also maybe that would stop those that are trying to get out of the Red Oak area to avoid Red Oak School. Why shouln't kids be able to go to school with their neighbors, not with kids from miles away that they would never see after school. Please don't take this as a racist thing because that's not where i'm coming from

Lee: As usual, you jump in to support "neighborhood schools", which tends to be a statement to get the Military children out of Red Oak. Instead, you advocate a massive re-distribution of children to support the existance of Red Oak. Basically, you want to change "neighborhoods" throughout town (Such as busing High Ridge families to Sherwood and moving Sherwood families to Red Oak. Not exactly a neighborhood.) Basically, here is the problem. There are more children than capacity in the North part of the district and too few in the southern part. There are two schools that serve the same population within 500 feet of each other, where there isn't the demand. If any school is to be closed, Red Oak is the first one to look at, yet, whenever that is suggested the Southwest community complains loudly. So, what's a logical solution?

Good lord people! This isn't about Red Oak! This is about buildings that are in dire need of repair, of programs of choice that are housed all over the district, of administrators that are hugely overpaid, and of a district that operates 3-4 more buildings than is necessary.

I have two kids at Red Oak, and one at Edgewood. I'm not a racist, an anti-semite or anti-military. What I am is pro-neighborhood. I want my kids to ride their bikes to school with their friends, to call a buddy to run over to play basketball in the driveway. Let's call a spade a spade already - you want to close Red Oak and move the geographic neighborhood population to Sherwood? FINE! And let me just say, I'm perfectly happy at Red Oak, but it's enough of people saying that things needs to change, but are unwilling to do it themselves. Just today, I had a conversation with a friend from another elementary school who was horrified that the teachers would demand more, but when boundary line change was brought up, the idea of it was dismissed almost immediately. This me, me, me mentality that we have going on here has to stop, or we'll keep on going in the same direction and our WHOLE district will suffer.

Please explain your comment

Shari--

I have two children still in 112 schools, and, like you, think most of the teachers are doing a very good job. However, the costs of administration is simply a union talking point and total red herring that has nothing to do with the serious budgetary issues 112 district faces. We could cut the adminstrative costs by a half and we'd still have the same long-terms budgetary issues unless we make the relatively minor changes to the teachers' compensation that the Board wants. Your point reminds me of when United Airlines was bleeding hundres of millions of dollars to its high cost structure and its unions just wanted to talk about the CEO's salary. That argument appeals to a certain segment of the population but makes no mathmatical sense. Also, the argument about adminstrators' salaries fails to account for the fact that the teachers have essentially guaranteed employment until they choose to retire, whereas the adminstrators are either at will or working under contracts typically no longer than a few years. I think if teachers agreed to drop their insistence on the outdated idea of tenture (which they never will) and seniority rights, people would be more receptive to higher compensation for them.

David R--Nonsense!! A talking point? You compare these guys to CEO's??? Wakey wakey.

https://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110914/news/709149939/

Mohsin Dada/ Base Pay $160,000/TRS Contribution $19,500/Family Insurance $23,000/Disability $500
David Behlow/Base Pay $215,000/TRS Contribution $23,000/Annuity Payment $43,000/Mileage Reimbursement $7,000/ Additional Bonus$37,000/ TOTAL NSSD112 COST FOR ONLY TWO ADMINISTRATORS: $536,000.....WOW 536 thousand for 2 salaries in the district?

No wonder we're not hearing much from these two :)

I couldn't have said it better Shari Wolfe. Thanks!

William:

I am certainly not a newcomer, and your's may the single most prejudiced comment on this publication.

The facts are that the US Government does not pay for any district to educate military dependents in part because 99% of America is not effected by the situation.

Consolidation does make more sense. In fact, perhaps we should have a single district for the entire Township.

A single district for the entire township: Which township would that be? Deerfield or Moraine? Highland Park is covered by two depending on where one lives.

Now one District for the elementary and HS levels for HP is an interesting thought. But given the fact that D113 overlays parts of Deerfield, Bannockburn, etc... it'd require a splitting of D113 first, then a consolidation of D112 and the split-D113 - and I suspect *THAT* would certainly be an interesting discussion :-)

David:

You are correct and I am wrong. There should be one district consisting of Highland Park, Highwood, Deerfield, Riverwoods and Bannockburn (where they have one schoold and a superintendent.) Basically the same boundaries of 113.

So, Lee, you're on board to close Red Oak? I'll bet your neighbors won't agree.

Mr. Hainsfurther:

I think the largest concern from the Southwest neighborhood about closing Red Oak or Sherwood and utilizing only one of the buildings would be what would happen with the land of the closed school? This is a strictly residential area and would have to remain as such without an increase in traffic.

That being said, if there are indeed school closings, the better choice from an infrastructural and land-value standpoint would probably be Lincoln. Additionally, why do we need to operate such a large facility for Administration offices (Green Bay)? Perhaps when we speak of building closures, we also need to look at all NSSD112 assets?

I say close Oak Terrace, it is failing, we do not want to send more children to a failing school. Or get ride of the Bilingual/dual program, it only serves the teachers that want to hang to their jobs without improving the quality of education. And please stop blaming the parents for their children not knowing or learning English, this is the new reality and we need to work with it, and the way it is right now, IT IS NOT WORKING.

i would say that this move to strike will in fact paralyze the community

Wendy--We do appreciate the teachers and we've showed our teachers this by making them the highest paid in the state! Also, please explain where the money to pay for the bigger raises is going to come from. Please don't respond that it should come from the superintendent's salary. Also, are HP residents in the private sector receiving raises? Aren't HP residents in the private sector being asked to pay more for their insurance? Are there any non-union HP residents in the private sector still part of pension systems? Very few. The bottom line is that the current system isn't sustainable and it's resulting in resources being shifted away from things that better our kids' educations (more teachers and aides, facilities, smaller class sizes, etc.). The school district doesn't exist to employ teachers. It exists to educate our children. Wendy, you also incorrectly assume that these teachers passed up non-teaching careers that would have allowed them to be wealthy prior to retirement. The teachers I know are great, wonderful people, but probably wouldn't thrive in the private sector. The bottom line is that I understand that the teachers in HP have a great thing going and they don't want anything to disrupt it even though those of us in the private sector are having to make the necessary adjustments given the realities of the economy.

No one's attacking teachers. We value them and the quality education our children receive. What's being re-evaluated is the unsustainable cost structure for the District. Some of that is infrastructure. And a large percentage of it is salary/benefits.

Bottom line: Everyone is being asked to take no or a small raise (typically 1 or 2%), everyone is being asked to pay more out of pocket for health care expenses, few if any get a defined benefit pension and many defined contribution funds have seen greatly reduced contributions.

That the community has increased reserves is nice - but those are for future needs such as maintenance/repair/replacements - not to use as a pot 'o gold to grant unsustainable raises.

I can't read minds, so I don't know a particular person's reasoning for going into one profession or another. But it's pretty difficult to claim that someone doesn't want to be wealthy when they're making $160K/yr salary along with benefits that equate to 75% salary for life, and more...

Then lets tie their salaries to their performance, so we can get ride of the bad teachers if their students do not improve. Lets see what teachers have to say about evaluations and firing even tenure BAD teachers.

how generous that you get to "agree" to these expenses that are part of the working world.....employees in the private sector have something called a 401k plan and we're not guaranteed anything on our ROI....i definitely went into the wrong industry

The "minimal reimbursement for graduate credits" is something that irks me. We're being asked to pay for someone to take classes, and then those classes are used as a justification to receive a pay raise (aka "lane change"). Sounds like double-dipping to me. Add in the typical "step raise" and you have a triple-dip. IF someone takes a course and their performance goes up, sure, they should be considered for a raise - but prove it through the metrics, not some "automatic" lane change for taking so many semester hours of courses...

In the private sector - sometimes you get reimbursed up to $5000/yr for graduate school but the company gets a corresponding writeoff on their taxes AND they often require you to remain at the company for at least 1 yr after taking the course(s), or you have to pay back the costs.

School Districts don't get any such write off because they don't pay taxes, rather WE pay taxes to them...

That said, the teacher may or many not qualify for a tax writeoff for all or a portion of the courses, under the guise of "professional development" or "continuing education requirements" - but they'd have to chat w/their accountant to be certain.

In District 112, teachers are not reimbursed for taking classes that are counted towards movement on a lane. If the teacher gets a raise, the class isn't reimbursed.

However, in order to use a class for lane movement (a raise), the class must be pre-approved. What is happening here is that the District pre-approved classes, which won't be reimbursed, and now wants to reneg on the promise that the class will be counted towards lane advancement.

Under what the Board is proposing, the teachers who are taking these classes will have to pay the bill for the classes and receive nothing in return despite the fact that they were promised that they would receive lane advancement.

Furthermore, there will be absolutely no real incentive for any teacher to take classes in the future. No one is going to get an MA degree so that they will receive a half percent pay raise.

"...in order to use a class for lane movement (a raise), the class must be pre-approved. What is happening here is that the District pre-approved classes, which won't be reimbursed, and now wants to reneg on the promise that the class will be counted towards lane advancement."

And that's a contractual dispute between the individual teachers affected and the District. Certainly nothing to strike over.

"Furthermore, there will be absolutely no real incentive for any teacher to take classes in the future. No one is going to get an MA degree so that they will receive a half percent pay raise."

That all depends on how we consider teachers for raises. I've promoted a "performance-based" consideration. If you have two candidates for raises, both have performed exactly the same, how do you decide? Do you cut the raise in half and give half to each? Perhaps. Or, if someone has received their MA, EdD - do we give them some extra weighting that gives them the full raise instead? Something to consider.

I've often heard the unions and the teachers claim that advanced degrees make them better teachers. OK, I'll bite and agree that it *COULD* work out that way-but before giving anyone a raise, let's see the actual performance results (again, something achievable and fair to all involved). Hit your numbers, get considered for a raise. Exceed your numbers, get considered for a bigger raise-just like in the private sector. People do the ROI calcs on courses all the time.

Wendy, I would direct you to the following:

http://district112teachers.org/contract-issues/retirement/

NSEA Last Offer: Retirement

Retain Current Contract Language: 6% Raise for Last Four Years of Employment $15,000 Lump Sum Payment

http://www.nssd112.org/pages/Northshore112/School_Board/Negotiations_Update/News/Board_of_Education_Most_Recent

District 112 Offer: Retirement

An increase for eligible retiring teachers in prior year’s salary of 4% for each year of the teacher’s last two years of employment

Retaining current contract language is hardly being willing to reduce their retirement. These pre-retirement increases in salary are why the pensions are so out of control. I wouldn't even want the BOE offer to be in the contract. I live in District 109 rather than 112 but the District 112 contract will impact District 109's next contract.

I don't agree with the taxpayer helping to fund a teacher's advanced degree. However, they should be compensated for their advanced level of education which they bring into the classroom.

We need to learn from other districts, look at CPS, they have promised raises to teachers so they could get back to school, but reality is that this year alone CPS will close more than 100 schools. OK those schools are under performing, like in our district Oak Terrace, could be a candidate to close and from there afford to pay the rest of the teachers. That is not the point, the point is to have enough resources to sustain our schools and to provide for a better education for the CHILDREN, not for the Teachers. We need to start evaluating teachers, they think they are entitled to more and more and not be accountable for their poor performance which has an impact on the future of our community. Next you will have drop out rates very high in the minority poor groups that share our district and are our neighbors, crime will increase and therefore, you will be like living in the south or west side of Chicago.

It's definitely double-dipping. Retiring from a job where he had a TRS pension worth $250K/yr (because he made $340K/yr at the job), and then taking a $160K/yr job so he can get an IMRF pension too is ridiculous. That WE, the taxpayers are forking over another 4.5% for HIS portion of the contribution, AND making our portion of the contribution as well tells me that we need to do some serious housecleaning over at D112.

Whomever voted for this contractual atrocity should be voted out of office - just like we did to the Park District Board in recent memory. AND, we should continue and remove the overpaid administrators too. These salaries are simply insane.

Then Lee, what school would you close? Red Oak was originally constructed as a Middle School. It's local population, which I believe to be the smallest in the City, can be served by Sherwood, which is 500 feet away from Red Oak. There would be little or no busing involved, which saves money. Seems to make sense. Unless, of course, this is about something other than saving money.

David is dead on; this is a strike of choice by IEA. I am a parent of 1 current Sherwood Student (Dual language) another at Elm Place and one Highland Park High school. Yes I have skin in the game. Some folks have said I am partisan in my comments, well call it what you will. The union called the strike on the board, the board is made of people WE voted in. I stand behind the board WE elected. . I believe allowing the teachers to go contractual and non-union is an option that must be looked into. I believe we would be looking at 12% per year in savings. Honestly the only one that loses is Mark Stien. And BIG UNIONS.

Tripp, not a bad idea, close Red Oak, Neighborhood Kids go to Sherwood, and busing stops

Joe: I will refrain from responding emotionally to your insensitive post. I merely suggest you read all the facts before you spew anger. Teachers' salaries are hardly inflated, our health insurance is practically unaffordable if we include family members, and we are not the only workers who get salary increases for advancing our degrees and improving our skills. You can be certain we have not been made to believe we are "too valuable". Regardless of how much we do, there are those who always expect and demand more and more and more; either of our time, our salary or our benefits. Your insinuation that teachers need to "grow up" indicates that you are simply spouting opinion without becoming informed first. I'm not sure what "perks" you are referring to. Do you mean our daily 30 minute "plan period" or our 50 minute "duty free" lunch break? Because other than that, we are teaching every minute of every day. We do not get coffee breaks, bathroom breaks, chatting by the water cooler breaks, breaks to make personal calls, breaks to check personal email...

Joe you are right. Anyway those classes they take do not even have an impact in the classroom. Lets evaluate the teachers and see if it really is working in favor of the children. I would cut all payment of classes and courses to the OAK TERRACE teachers until their students improve, it is a shame that 4 out of 10 students in this school do not know how to read or write and the teachers are taking courses just to bump their salaries, not to bump their students knowledge. It is a shame that the school is failing its students.

Amy, thank you I could not have said it better. Your comments are spot on!

"domestics who live elsewhere have been encouraged to drop off their children at 112 schools while the parent works IN south HP, That is theft and has gone on longer than my 62 years. " It is indeed a criminal act. It's been a while since I reviewed that statute, but I seem to recall that it starts out as a misdemeanor (class C) and works it's way up to a felony (class 4).

People who send their kids to school have to certify under penalty of perjury that they live in the district. So if they lie on the form, they can be held accountable. I'd start by reporting those you know to the District. If nothing is done, report to the Lake County State's Attorney... But as far as I know, D112 has had investigators look into some instances before.

Look your concern here is the teachers, not the children. You are taking it very personal. You defend a system that does not work. You defend a school that is failing students. I do take it personal, I have complained to the Board, to the Principal, to the Superintendent and nobody cares, because it is not their problem, it is of the children and their parents. If your kid was the one left behind, this would be a different story. The thing you have to understand is that the school is misguiding parents about the performance, parents that are afraid to complain about their teacher because they are afraid of retaliation. So yes we are all frustrated with this school, its principal and personnel.

Families in the Hispanic community do not tend to complain, nor write in this forums, nor they are part of the Board of the district. They are very silent about their issues unless you are part of their community, which I am. I have had parents come to me at church and talk about their issues with the school, which we have brought to the attention of the principal, the superintendent and then the Board, nothing was done but to retaliate against the parents. I have inquired many times about the progress and the publication of the Performance Plan and nothing has been done, I guess the best thing to do is like you to diminish my concerns and try to treat me as if I am crazy or have a personal vendetta. That is bullying, plain bullying when you do not like to hear someone else opinion. I am not backing off, it is for the future of my community that happens to be your neighbor, your cleaning lady, your landscaper, the man that serves you bagels.

I am a life-long resident of HP and currently a teacher at Northwood. Oak Terrace feeds into Northwood. The general "public" has NO idea how much effort we teachers put into our jobs. We care for them academically and emotionally. I wake up abruptly in the middle of the night thinking about certain students.
D112 teachers put their hearts and souls into these students! Believe it or not, many students are low income and underprivileged. Some come to us with a limited educational background and many social/emotional needs.
Don't underestimate your teachers. Most of the people in our town don't have a clue what it takes to do an effective job here in District 112. At one point, nor did I-----until I began teaching here. I am a proud resident and a proud D112 teacher.

HS and M, I appreciate your comments and your efforts in helping the students. I understand it is a tough job. Although, students at both Oak Terrace and Northwood are failing and it is not a matter of "just" feeling safe and loved and your efforts, it is a matter of "KNOWING" how to educate them and helping them be prepared for COLLEGE, for life. It is clear to me that YOUR SCHOOLS ARE FAILING and we as a community need to do something before we have a plague (although I think we already have it). Illed prepared students moving from OT to Northwood is a clear example, this year Northwood did not make AYP. If we continue with this trend, next we will realize is that we have a minority group in a reach district being left out. Perhaps you should move on with your career at a different school with different students. It is clear to me that you guys are not doing the job right!

And please do not get me wrong, I believe there are GREAT, WONDERFUL teachers out there at these schools and I bet you they also feel frustrated that some are doing a good job and other a mediocre job. So would you agree to fast forward the EVALUATIONS into your contract and tie it to student growth, performance in tests in addition to any other criteria you consider would be fair for you, but if you want FAIRNESS, lets tie the evaluation to STUDENT PERFORMANCE. Therefore we clean the house and we really prepare these students to a better future.

Alexa Martinez!! You said to HS and M, "Perhaps you should move on with your career at a different school with different students. It is clear to me that you guys are not doing the job right!" Who do you think you are? And you whine that people are "bullying" you? I sincerely hope that your children don't grow up to be as ignorant as you. Facts, Alexa, Facts! And perhaps a class or two. You can invite your buddy, David Greenberg to join you.

Excuses, and more excuses. Oak Terrace has been on the black list for over 5 years. Your principal files the report and says you guys have 100% parent involvement, and I know the Hispanic community, is not the parents problem, it is that the school does not know how to educate a minority poor group. Your bilingual program is failing. You guys should know what is going on in your school, do you know Oak Terrace has been failing for over 5 years and therefore has to offer parents the public school choice, which includes free transportation (one more expense that we should not be paying for if teachers do their job), your school is up for restructuring, to be taken by a charter school or closed, something drastic will happen. Hopefully they get rid of the bilingual program and start a fully immerse English program. Do not give me excuses, there are other schools with less money per student and are doing a much better job.

Wendy, seriously - are you telling me that only kids with educated parents can be educated? Are you implying that Hispanics do not support their kids? How wrong you are and how dare you think Hispanics do not support their kids. The fact that they do not speak to them in English since they are born is not an excuse for the teachers. You are paid at least 70k a year to give us excuses, if you do not know how to handle these students, quite so these children can have a real opportunity. Enough of excuses.

To the wonderful Oak Terrace & Northwood teachers out there reading this - please know that you are appreciated and valued. Alexa's viewpoint does not represent the majority. For her, or for anyone to say that you should move on with your career at a different school is just plain insulting.

Alexa, I know this is an open forum and you certainly have the right to your opinions but your rudeness towards these individuals is appalling.

I also do need to correct you on something. Based on not meeting AYP, the students at Oak Terrace were given the choice to attend another school. (I believe this happened two years ago but I may be off by a year or so.) Additionally, I understand that the school choices were Indian Trail or Braeside, two high performing schools. It is my understanding that not ONE student made the choice to leave Oak Terrace. If things are as bad as you claim, why didn't they leave? There were multiple meeting on this topic in both English and Spanish, childcare was provided. Care to explain?

Alexa you do not have an accurate picture of what my classroom is like. I teach the poor Hispanic students as you like to call them. My preference would be a group of intelligent children with unlimited potential. Their entire day is taught in English. Every book they read, every paragraph they write, and every word they are instructed in is in English. I am doing my job! Every one of my students meets and or exceeds their academic growth targets every year. If you are so sure that you are correct come and visit/observe my classroom. I repeat I have no issue with my evaluation being tied to
my performance. I will put my performance up against your ignorance any day, and I will win. As for your comment on salaries. I don't know whom you are referring to but it is not me. I have been teaching for 21 years, I have two masters, and three additional endorsements and my take home pay is roughly $1750 a paycheck. Do the math that comes to significantly below 70k. You clearly have anger issues and quite a bit of free time on your hands.

HS: " I repeat I have no issue with my evaluation being tied to
my performance." - what would you propose your performance be evaluated on? What measurable metrics would you consider fair?

By the way----Elm Place AND Edgewood didn't make AYP either......

Alexa,
I appreciate your frustration, but you're making several inflammatory and hurtful statements about teachers and adminstrators despite the fact that the peer-reviewed literature suggests that there's likely little, if anything, the schools can do about it. For example, please read this article from the NY Times regarding a recent study about the poor test scores among Hispanic immigrants’ children.http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/21/us/21latina.html?_r=0 The study suggests that the poor test scores are a result of what the Hispanic parents are and are not doing before the children reach kindergarten. I know it sounds defeatist but it may simply be too late for some of these children to score highly on tests if they didn't receive adequate pre-k training and attention. Certainly most will progress academically, but very few will be near the top of their classes.

So, out if curiosity, how many students took advantage of the opportunity to transfer to a high-performing school?

While I understand the frustration with the ESL program, doesn't the responsibility sit with the administration on the District level and not in the building. Isn't the cirriculum flawed? If it's the execution, then you can blame the teachers, but it sounds from what you say that it's the program.

One minute you claim to want a fully immersed English program, the next you're complaining about the Spanish version of a letter being translated incorrectly. How about we have a fully immersed English program, and send out one version of everything - in English. If someone needs something translated, they can do it on their own, then they can't blame us for erring in the translation, and additionally - we won't have to absorb the costs of doing everything more than one time.

HS:

Well stated and presented! I give you an A+ and appreciate your attitude and am glad that you teach in our district! Anyone willing to work hard to prove they are a quality hire is a valued asset to D112 and the community. Certainly, I support the teachers but have financial concerns about an accelerated compensation race with surrounding districts in these economic times.

No question that sacrifices or take always should reverberate into the administrative compensation packages too.

I believe that quality high performing teachers should be compensated within the top percentile regardless of tenure or degree. However, I am not sure that would be acceptable to a teachers union.

HS: Thank you for the insight - it is quite helpful. I also greatly appreciate the fact that you are publicly willing to state that you take pride in your job and are willing to work hard to prove you are a quality hire.

Forest: I agree, Administrators need to be evaluated on performance of the school as a whole as well. Again, fair, achievable, and some reasonable percentage of the salary - just like I've pitched for teachers.

And I agree with your compensation model in the last paragraph too...

Makes you feel dirty, doesn't it?

So, Joe, because Ellie has a better job then you, you don't support her? You wouldn't feel that way if you had a better position. You're sounding like a bitter complainer (if not quite jealous). Come to HP and apply for one of these jobs if you think you have the skills, otherwise keep your thoughts to yourself. Grow Up!!

Perhaps you're not aware that the North Chicago union has struck in the past.

Joe wallace - I cannot find a "joe wallace" who teaches at north chicago. There is a "william wallace". between 2009 and 2010 he received a 7.5% pay increase. I should note... his salary is $46,000 per year with just 4 years of experience (in 2010). I should note.. a teacher in nssd112 would have to get a partial masters and work at least 5 years to receive that same pay.

Joe, "spoiled teachers"? Ha! Not in the field, but have plenty of admiration for all that you do. Now relax and be happy with your NCHS job. It's not as bad as you make it sound. Give it a few more years. Things will get better. If not, New Orleans has some openings :)