Advice for New District 155 School Board

From a comment under the article “District 155 Announces 13 Layoffs“:

Just like any good business, it is important to understand what value you are providing to your customers.

The customers here are the students and our teachers are providing the value to those students so eliminating teachers should be a last resort.

I understand declining enrollment but there was an immediate need and the knee jerk was to cut teachers.

So the administration needs to look inside their own organization and understand if those in their departments are efficient and if not what improvements can be made.

Then through attrition people will not be replaced.

I look at D155 organization and how many are staffed in each department and compare it to a manufacturing company with an equivalent “sales revenue” as D155 (approx $100 million),D155 runs heavier in headcount.

Why ?

Example – Accounting in D155 has 9 people.

Most $100 million businesses I have been associated with have 4.

There are currently 24 open positions at D155.

Really, and we laid of 13.

Just an observation as I know some are summer school etc…

Looks like a need is there to possibly improve managing the resources in the district?


Comments

Advice for New District 155 School Board — 15 Comments

  1. Yep that’s 155 for you.

    Wasteful and entitled.

    Heavy on all administrative people and high priced salaries plus benefits. Has been this way since the hiring of Thomas.

    Now they even raised the registration fees and have added sports fees too.

    All the while claiming they know this will hurt families and keep kids from being able to participate in sports but oh well, other district are doing it so we will too.

    In addition to raising fees, Wagner made sure before he left that we are stuck with Thomas for many years to come by extending his contract 2 years before it was even up for renewal.

  2. Woodstock D200 tried to extend the Superintendent contract years prior to its expiry, and include a substantial bonus to boot.

    The agenda labelled this action as “routine personnel matters”.

    Vigilant taxpayer watchdogs of VotersInAction objected and filed an OMA complaint. This complaint resulted in Superintendent refusing bonus.

    Districts 155 and 47 need taxpayer watchdogs to scrutinize agenda and agenda packets.

  3. Lots of school boards renew Superintendent contracts a few years prior to the expiration date.

    All employees should be on a maximum one year contract to protect the taxpayer.

  4. Retirees from Crystal Lake High School District 155 (CHSD 155) receiving a pension $100,000 & up in 2017:

    Name – Current Pension – Retirement Age – Pension Received to Date

    Anthony P Albert – $110,681 – 54 – $802,715

    Gary P Aldridge – $110,562 – 53 – $1,809,032

    Donald C Baassler – $104,280 – 54 – $1,199,889

    Michael A Bailey – $122,969 – 56 – $1,346,895

    Jeanne C Baker – $119,847 – 57 – $1,406.646

    Albert C Banker – $112,648 – 59 – $1,902,441

    James E Beck – $117,045 – 56 – $1,574,471

    Joyce E Bennett – $123,431 – 60 – $1,452,111

    Lawrence W Bennett – $158,875 – 55 – $1,963,417

    Helga H Berutti – $103,766 – 56 – $523,283

    Michael E Buck – $121,135 – 59 – $727,957

    March E Calkins – $121,249 – 55 – $1,316,607

    Richard J Calkins – $139,589 – 56 – $1,892,373

    Richard R Card – $115,298 – 56 – $1,602,876

    Gary L Collins – $126,716 – 55 – $1,618,267

    Robert D Cryer – $157,810 – 59 – $2,659,510

    Daniel L Cysewski – $112,072 – 60 – $179,537

    Kim L Danielson – $109,543 – 65 – $1,126,115

    Robert E Denny – $102,141 – 59 – $1,774,162

    Patricia Deppert – $160,458 – 55 – $1,530,868

    Donna J DeVita – $109,588 – 58 – $1,489,071

    Timothy W Devries – $110,626 – 55 – $1,342,217

    David R Dreyer – $109,447 – 59 – $1,070,895

    Stephen J Dunk – $130,375 – 55 – $637,169

    Michael R Dunker – $114,303 – 55 – $563,303

    Bob G Farris – $109,287 – 62 – $2,140,276

    Patrick M Fitzgerald – $119,959 – 57 – $1,546,006

    Dana C Floor – $124,674 – 57 – $1,213,698

    Russell W Foreman – $104,336 – 62 – $1,485,856

    Jeanne E Garman – $122,395 – 59 – $1,197,593

    Allen D Gaydosh – $121,860 – 57 – $1,649,380

    Kevin L Gerlach – $131,763 – 55 – $1,168,917

    Lorena Gorey – $122,702 – 56 – $611,842

    Catherine G Green – $142,567 – 54 – $1,815,688

    James G Green – $119,592 – 57 – $1,400,709

    Robert E Groos – $112,789 – 63 – $1,333,619

    Jill W Hawk – $193,623 – 57 – $816,036

    Lois R Haydysch – $104,768 – 55 – $1,137,643

    Ronald W Henning – $105,082 – 56 – $1,227,724

    Verdin F Hull – $101,819 – 58 – $1,196,223

    Anne M Jaenicke – $107,760 – 58 – $552,086

    Janet K Kasuboske – $104,819 – 60 – $1,305,658

    Bruce Kay – $137,688 – 56 – $686,569

    George A Kay – $140,433 – 55 – $1,429,991

    Christopher B Keyes – $108,890 – 60 – $180,240

    David G Klebbe – $116,401 – 58 – $1,297,000

    Richard F Kloepfer – $116,836 – 57 – $1,914,311

    Dennis Koerner – $102,465 – 54 – $822,387

    William Kopanda – $134,516 – 59 – $685,416

    Harold E Lachel Jr – $124,455 – 60 – $1,549,906

    Therese Lancaster – $103,608 – 62 – $540,122

    Mary A Landon – $116,588 – 60 – $1,144,407

    Sharon R Larson – $107,381 – 55 – $941,512

    Marcia L Lutter – $112,224 – 65 – $678,477

    William A Mack – $103,843 – 56 – $1,754,148

    John G Mackie – $154,587 – 58 – $2,084,487

    Joseph J Maraccini – $100,408 – 55 – $806,039

    Ronald K Marks – $115,521 – 57 – $1,574,451

    Harry D McCauley – $112,042 – 58 – $1,835,759

    Richard B McKelvey – $118,871 – 56 – $1,038,290

    Michael E Mills – $209,545 – 56 – $1,998,838

    Diana K Morales – $102,016 – 62 – $532,512

    William D Moylan Jr. – $103,185 – 60 – $1,220,055

    William A Murphy – $138,985 – 56 – $1,433,750

    Donald L Nead – $106,468 – 53 – $1,742,054

    Donald W Noonan – $109,535 – 56 – $1,409,321

    Rita M Oberry – $106,409 – 60 – $1,188,788

    David OLeary – $123,733 – 57 – $604,439

    Lawrence R OMeara – $160,043 – 57 – $1,759,051

    Mary K Omeara – $125,196 – 59 – $1,140,677

    William D Phelps – $130,263 – 63 – $2,381,022

    Tom F Philips – $124,129 – 55 – $1,436,689

    Chris A Phillips – $119,659 – 58 – $1,080,227

    Richard P Podraza – $128,538 – 56 – $1,140,302

    Susan R Popp – $143,400 – 57 – $1,181,351

    Larry D Quick – $109,905 – 59 – $1,565,161

    Rhonda J Quick – $116,067 – 62 – $405,401

    Ernest P Quigel – $120,114 – 55 – $1,223,093

    Richard Rill – $106,217 – 60 – $890,245

    James E Rosenberg – $132,261 – 54 – $1,608,084

    Karen E Roti – $103,080 – 66 – $785,014

    Mary J Roubik – $113,383 – 56 – $1,467,058

    Joseph M Saban – $206,769 – 55 – $2,440,696

    Willard I Saufley – $105,093 – 60 – $1,031,575

    John E Sayles – $104,388 – 54 – $390,004

    Leonard G Scheel – $109,191 – 59 – $1,786,604

    Gary J Seiler – $120,948 – 55 – $1,324,758

    Kathleen a Speaker – $114,047 – 55 – $310,779

    Linda A Stoeger – $110,624 – 65 – $285,714

    Donald E Stumpf – $125,240 – 54 – $998,701

    Harlan W Suffield – $106,925 – 65 – $1,582,551

    Theresa D Trumbo – $114,355 – 55 – $1,164,450

    Michael N Valley – $114,168 – 56 – $1,066,175

    John H Van Horn – $116,748 – 55 – $1,910,252

    Dennis F Vanmeenen – $101,797 – 55 – $1,182,012

    Joann Waschbusch – $142,483 – 55 – $1,815,787

    William A Weller – $114,372 – 59 – $399,481

    Janice S Wensch – $104,021 – 55 – $912,052

    Thomas P Wensch – $161,281 – 56 – $1,303,101

    Herbert G Wierzbach – $124,876 – 58 – $1,845,152

    Danny L Wiggs – $127,371 – 59 – $1,338,111

    Robert J Williams – $101,607 – 56 – $1,120,971

    Wayne V Winkelman – $130,612 – 55 – $1,755,338

    Dan Wintersteen – $135,169 – 55 – $1,480,525

    Total of above – $12,625,213 – 5,973 – $131,912,214

    Average of above – $121,396 – 57.4 – $1,268,387

    ++++++++++

    There is more information in the reports on the website.

    Source:

    Taxpayers United of America

    11th Annual Report Illinois State Pensions (plus IMRF)

    Illinois Government Pensions Exceeding $100,000 in GARS, IMRF, JRS, SERS, SURS, & TRS

    http://www.taxpayersunitedofamerica.org/items-of-interest/11th-annual-report-illinois-state-pensions

    ++++++++++++

    Schools in CHSD 155:

    Cary Grove High School

    Crystal Lake Central High School

    Crystal Lake South High School

    Prairie Ridge High School

  5. That is 104 retired CHSD 155 employees receiving a pension of $100,000 or higher in 2017.

  6. As of December 31, 2015, CHSD owed $4,863,869 to the IMRF pension fund.

    That is the net pension liability (unfunded liability).

    Source: Page 38 (pdf page 56) of the CHSD 155 FY 2016 CAFR (Fiscal Year 2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report).

    IMRF = Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund.

    It is the pension fund for most employees other than teachers and certified administrators (most administrators are certified).

    +++++++++++++++

    Using the June 30, 2014 actuarial valuation, the TRS net pension liability (unfunded liability) for CHSD 155 was measured on June 30, 2015, and reported in the CHSD 155 FY 2016 CAFR.

    The employer unfunded liability was $4,813,820.

    The State unfunded liability on behalf of the employer was $172,772,961.

    The total CHSD 155 TRS unfunded liability was $177,586,781.

    TRS = Teachers Retirement System of the State of Illinois.

    It is the pension funded for teachers and certified administrators.

    Most administrators are certified.

    ++++++++++

    CHSD unfunded pension liabilities:

    IMRF – $4,863,869

    TRS – $177,586,781

    Total – $182,450,650.

    +++++++++

    As of the those dates, taxpayers owed $182,450,650 to pension funds attributable to CHSD 155 operations.

    The State owed the majority on behalf of the school district.

    +++++++++

    The IMRF plan for CHSD 155 is probably over twice as well funded as TRS.

    Pensions should be fully funded.

    Any shortfall is not receiving investment returns, and the taxpayer has to make up 100% of the lost investment returns in a defined benefit pension fund.

    Thus, in the long run, underfunded pensions are more expensive to operate than fully funded pensions, assuming the pensions are to be paid in full.

    A big problem with the pensions is state legislators hiked the benefits, and local hiked the salaries, even though the pensions were underfunded.

    That increased the cost to the taxpayers to fund the pensions.

  7. Stein’s Law: “If something cannot go on forever, it will stop.”

    The public employee unions are in for quite a rude awakening when their pension funds become insolvent and they realize that the courts are unable to force the General Assembly to make them whole.

  8. Before a pension fund becomes insolvent there would likely be a lot of tax, fee and other revenue hikes, and service cuts.

    In Illinois that means a likely income tax hike with minimal government reform and no sustainable pension reform.

  9. OPEB is a case study of undisclosed entitlements which are direct obligations of local (property) tax payers every year that obligation, which is forced to be publicly disclosed as debt, accrues and grows with inflation.

    As the entitlement holders get through the pipeline that number can explode.

  10. Employees in Crystal Lake High School District 155 (CHSD 155) receiving pensionable income of $100,000 & up in 2015.

    2015 is the most recent year pensionable income is available in Open the Books

    Name – Pensionable Income

    Johnnie Thomas – $233,510

    Steven E Olson – $191,225

    Corey G Tafoya – $182,751

    Randy D Davis – $182,243

    Jay J Sargeant – $176,293

    Scott H Shepard – $168,128

    Steven D Koch – $164,599

    Joseph L Cole – $162,343

    Lisa J Connell – $162,343

    Steven J Knope – $161,026

    James V Altendorf – $154,915

    Jeffrey P Aldridge – $153,918

    Kimberly M Dahlem – $151,545

    Eric E Ernd – $151,333

    David J Shutters – $146,221

    James D Kelly – $145,594

    Jason J Bott – $145,548

    Kathryn L Gilbert – $144,983

    Kyle P Mclaughn – $144,421

    Emory E Swinney – $144,271

    Richard A Eschman – $143,701

    Gregory M Hoffman – $142,554

    Charles W Ahsmann – $142,306

    Robert W Boncosky – $142,228

    Scott A Kubelka – $141,933

    Rebecca J Saffert – $141,471

    Matthew H Timmerman – $140,949

    Troy A Bruley – $140,486

    Mark C Gilbert – $140,127

    Stephen R Greiner – $140,094

    Donald J Sutherland – $139,319

    Timothy J Blakewell – $139,150

    Lorrie B Brandwein – $138,995

    Aaron A Perkins – $138,995

    Mike R Walston – $137,981

    Rodney A Saffert – $136,160

    Kevin G Koeppen – $136,047

    Frank T Benedetto – $135,741

    Stefanie A Otto – $135,603

    Jeffrey S Daurer – $135,213

    Layne B Holter – $135,155

    Robert E Hewett – $134,150

    Daniel L Cysewski – $133,972

    William E Eschman – $133,909

    Dean P Britt – $133,665

    Christopher B Keyes – $133,580

    Scott A Lemoine – $133,352

    Sean T Scotty – $133,161

    Martin A Magnini – $132,648

    Denis C Obrien – $132,281

    Sean K Levitt – $131,967

    John T Pellikan – $131,528

    George L Divenere – $131,200

    Glen C Pecoraro – $131,197

    Michelle S Hartnett – $131,085

    Cory R Osterberg – $130,579

    Gary R Wleklinski – $130,548

    William R Altmann – $130,326

    Henry J Harvey – $129,969

    Laura R Bender – $128,890

    Michael R Smalley – $128,511

    Tammy R Olson – $128,319

    Michael J Manning – $128,253

    Craig S Kingston – $126,727

    August A Serio – $126,671

    Rick C Lima – $126,474

    Connie S Kendall – $126,105

    David P Otto – $126,036

    Therese J Youel – $125,891

    Bradley J Snyder – $125,829

    Larry M Boberg – $125,778

    Kylene T Gott – $125,657

    William E Walker – $125,441

    William D Wynn – $125,437

    David R Jensen – $125,374

    Amy S Langelund – $125,301

    Jay M Wiese – $124,493

    Kristen K Davis – $124,136

    Timothy S Garis – $123,975

    Richard R Foerster – $123,774

    Susan M Smits – $123,650

    Brian L Adcock – $123,582

    Thomas K Kellner – $123,478

    Laura J Jensen – $123,441

    Jean C Boddy – $123,313

    Brian G Strombom – $123,210

    Mark R Anderson – $123,147

    Brian K Seaver – $123,129

    Paul A Humpa – $123,082

    Patricia C Langanis – $122,916

    Katherine C Kline – $122,892

    Dona M Taylor – $122,499

    Brett L Collins – $122,382

    Deborah K Cleary – $122,057

    Patricia A Hie – $121,876

    Kelly L Macdonald – $121,710

    Mary C Weisman – $121,463

    Keith H Levin – $121,365

    Peter L Cook – $121,353

    Michael P Adams – $121,325

    Michael R Marchewka – $121,317

    Arne N Waltmire – $121,243

    Pamela S Craig – $121,095

    Lisa J Rydberg – $121,058

    Kerry A Parrish – $120,400

    Michelle C Loeding – $120,281

    Nancy H Saurmann – $120,048

    Joseph J Jauch – $120,007

    Barbara Lamb – $119,983

    Michelle A Kidd – $119,496

    Kristina M Lemoine – $119,446

    Mary R Hanson – $119,427

    Michael C Naughton – $119,283

    Jeanine K Stantesly – $119,158

    Scott S Busam – $119,025

    Rebecca J Withers – $118,982

    Teresa M Sigsworth – $118,878

    Michele C Witt – $118,869

    Patricia M Skach – $118,802

    Kelly J Muzzy – $118,607

    Mary E Alford – $118,601

    Sandra K Carlson – $118,586

    Deann E Walkner – $118,584

    Margaret Gaede – $118,570

    Barbra A Knaak – $118,496

    Phillip G Albamonte – $118,459

    Sharon M Anderson – $118,459

    Karen J Guthrie – $118,422

    Todd D Huff – $118,401

    Richard G Guthrie – $118,385

    Catherine P Sullens – $118,363

    Christopher H Johansen – $118,348

    Nicole L Lydon – $118,348

    Aaron C Pheiffer – $118,348

    William B Walkner – $118,348

    Ryan J Passaglia – $118,302

    Stephanie L Wozny – $118,207

    Matthew D Berg – $117,885

    Richard D Rasmussen – $117,760

    Julie M Duncan – $117,748

    Zachery A Gimm – $117,725

    Judd M Shutt – $117,674

    Tamara A Jazwinski – $117,382

    Matthew S Svendsen – $117,238

    Karen M Hirschey – $116,511

    Michael W Hermann – $115,866

    Bradley S Seaburg – $115,463

    Amy I Taege – $115,306

    Raymond S Krystal – $115,232

    Elizabeth C Arbir – $114,241

    Brenda L Brockland – $114,193

    Sharon L Blake – $113,887

    Joshua P Norten – $113,545

    Steven A Karlblom – $113,352

    Mary T Finkle – $113,337

    Jeffrey L Delzell – $113,300

    Todd L Graba – $113,300

    Matthew A Senese – $113,040

    Jon T Mclaughlin – $112,752

    Matt Fralick – $112,717

    Julia A Nadler – $112,529

    Katherine J Hatters – $112,069

    Victoria A Roberts – $111,940

    Victoria G Billimack – $111,821

    Patrick M Whalen – $111,744

    Jerald H Thiel – $111,608

    Michael T Collins – $111,535

    Christopher J Schremp – $111,012

    Barbara Goeske – $110,564

    Jonathan T Byhan – $110,525

    Maria J Bidelman – $110,513

    Marni J Eschman – $110,429

    Diana L Nelson – $110,330

    Christine L Lashin – $110,209

    Douglas A Wilbrandt – $110,045

    Justin M Hubly – $109,834

    Benjamin R Stoner – $109,821

    Dorothea M Chianakas – $109,553

    Amy V Bland – $109,261

    Curtis A Wadlington – $109,026

    Katy S Resch – $108,948

    Judith A Swett – $108,942

    Patricia M Secrest – $108,515

    Frank R Hoover – $108,404

    Gary S Connell – $108,178

    Gloria D Maloney – $108,134

    Timothy J Bacak – $108,109

    Jacoba A Seiler – $108,071

    Andrew A Mack – $107,947

    Nora B Huff – $107,765

    Erica A Bruso – $107,664

    Sydney J Deckro – $107,554

    Rachel A Hanson – $107,544

    Todd M Sherwood – $107,524

    Loria A Meyer – $107,433

    Katja A Stonebraker – $107,322

    Sara V Huser – $107,281

    Jay T Mueller – $107,128

    Aaron D Cummins – $106,922

    Lori A Ratliff – $106,771

    Michelle M Mason – $106,332

    Joshua T Nobilio – $105,974

    Anne A Burns – $105,615

    Robert J Fontana – $105,546

    Raymond H Card – $105,480

    Matthew D Koll – $105,381

    Kenneth P Greenfield – $105,318

    Timothy N Taege – $105,308

    Matthew M Dunker – $105,234

    Laura A Mokry – $104,980

    Kristin Glover – $104,970

    Brian C Bogda – $104,823

    Jason M Schwab – $104,791

    Jessica L Elder – $104,717

    Rebecca M Stevenson – $104,710

    Kelli A Claps – $104,382

    Theresa A Miller – $104,099

    Justen R Lehr – $103,945

    Erin M Palese – $103,453

    Matthew E Rogers – $103,439

    Michelle K Aevermann-streit – $103,376

    Laura J Jacobson – $103,305

    Erika B Jones – $103,274

    Wendy H Guss – $103,089

    Kerri E Bowers – $103,070

    Robert E Schmitt – $102,977

    Christopher H Gotsch – $102,887

    Joe A Terhaar – $102,807

    Amanda D Senese – $102,647

    Anita Theodore – $102,628

    Jason A Nawracaj – $102,486

    Katie L Koch – $102,414

    Amy G Passaglia – $102,361

    Jonathan R Powell – $102,349

    Anna M Carroll – $102,292

    Michael G Romito – $102,225

    Jennifer M Fuerholzer – $102,040

    Audrey E Mazzuca – $102,004

    Ralph K Schuetzle – $101,697

    Katherine C Buxton – $101,231

    Kate M Binder – $100,960

    James V Krol – $100,167

    Edward W Weaver – $100,110

    Total of 243 employees – $29,548,980

    Average of 243 employees – $121,600.74

  11. Typo. Opeb debt are not part of statutory debt maximum limit, so there is no limit to what amount can be placed as a burden on property taxpayer.
    And it is disclosed in CAFR and budget if one looks for it.

  12. Point is, unlimited debt burden for post employment benefits can and is placed upon local taxpayers already.

  13. OPEB = Other Post Employment Benefits.

    That includes retiree healthcare.

    OPEB has been flying under the radar.

    It will soon become more transparent with the implementation of GASB 75 (Government Accounting Standards Board).

    +++++++

    An Illinois Supreme Court Decision named Kanerva v Weems found that OPEB is included in the pension sentence that was added to the Illinois State Constitution on December 15, 1970.

    Thus, any employee working at the time an OPEB benefit is added or hiked, and all workers employed until the OPEB is rescinded or changed, receive the OPEB for their lifetime.

    The same is true of pensions.

    Here is the infamous sentence that is part of the Illinois Pension & OPEB Scam.

    The scam is that pensions benefits, OPEB benefits, and salaries can be hiked, even if existing pensions and OPEB are underfunded.

    Transparency by elected officials, the government, and reporters in the scam was lacking.

    “Membership in any pension or retirement system of the State,

    any unit of local government or school district,

    or any agency or instrumentality thereof,

    shall be an enforceable contractual relationship,

    the benefits of which shall not be diminished or impaired.

    – Article XIII, Section 5 (Article 13)

    – 40 words in the sentence.

    +++++++++

    Thus “retirement benefits” in the pension sentence was found to include OPEB.

  14. Summary of Crystal Lake High School District 155 Pay (Pensionable Income) and Pensions

    —-

    Total of 243 employees with pensionable income of $100,000 or more in 2015 – $29,548,980

    Total of 104 retirees with pension $100,000 and above in 2017: $12,625,213

    —-

    Average of 243 employees with pensionable income of $100,000 or more in 2015 – $121,600.74

    Average of 104 retirees with pension $100,000 and above in 2017: $121,396

    —-

    Total of 347 employees with pensionable income (as of 2015) or retirees with pension of $100,000 or more (as of 2017): $42,174,193

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