McHenry County Blog

Just like McHenry County College, Elementary School 47′s Board has a major infusion of new blood.

Virginia Visin retired.

Incumbents Rob Routzahn and Ruth Scifo ran for re-election.

Pretty similar to the MCC Board of Trustees’ contest.

A former principal, Betsy Les was the third of what I have dubbed “the incumbent slate” for the District 47 Board.

Running from the outside were Donna Ricci and Eileen Palsgrove.

Les had lots of signs, four-by-four foot and regular yard signs.

Routzahn and Scifo shared yard signs. There were a good number.

I saw one joint sign for Ricci and Palsgrove.

Donna Ricci

Of the candidates, I only heard one in campaign mode.

That was Donna Ricci.

She asked for and received permission to speak to the Nunda Township Republican candidates’ night crowd.

Besides that and the signs, the only campaigning I saw was a post card.

It was sent on behalf of Ricci and Palsgrove by the Pro-Life Victory Committee.

I assume the Crystal Lake Elementary Teachers Association, CLETA, informed its members of its favorites.

The list used was probably the same one that Arne Waltmire used for his McHenry County College campaign mailing that hit my precinct on the Saturday before the election.

Waltmire is the Regional Director of the Illinois Education Association, but he came in seventh of nine candidates in the MCC Board of Trustees race.

Jeff Mason

Crystal Lake Elementary School District 47 has four seats up for grabs in April’s election.

Terms are expiring for

• Jeff Mason
• Rob Routzahn
• Ruth Scifo
• Virginia Visin

So far three people have filed petitions for the openings:

• Jeff Mason
• Rob Routzahn
• Betsy Les

Filing is open until the close of business on December 26th.

Those thinking about running need to file a Statement of Economic Interest with the County Clerk and attach its receipt with a staple to one’s petitions and Statement of Candidacy. And, be sure to number the pages.

Yesterday Crystal Lake Elementary School Superintendent Donn Mendoza sent Crystal Lake Library Director Kathryn Martens the following email:

“Attached is the operational information you requested.

“As per our discussion, last night, our Board directed me to commence a study and an analysis from a cost and programmatic perspective relative to what a school closing might look like in District 47.

“The study would be initiated with the intent of providing them with a long range view of what this would look like.

“That is to say I would not expect the study to be completed and presented to the Board with any type of recommendation until sometime toward the end of next school year or the during the year after.

“Please call me if you have any questions.”

Below is the spreadsheet of building information for District 47:

Basic building and acreage information for District 47 real estate.

Also noted is that District 47 is 47.8 square miles.

Almost next to Aldi’s are located the Hampton Apartments on Uteg Street.

A press release has come from the Crystal Lake Police Department concerning the morning activity on Uteg Street.  It follows:

On October 31, 2012, at 9:01 a.m., the Crystal Lake Police were contacted by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Dispatch Center concerning a troubled individual, who was believed to be calling from within the Crystal Lake City limits.

It was also reported that the caller was armed with a handgun and contemplating suicide.

Working in conjunction with DeKalb County Sheriff’s Dispatch, Crystal Lake Police were able to determine that the subject was visiting the home of a friend in the 200 block of Uteg Street, in Crystal Lake.

Due to the seriousness of this incident, the Crystal Lake Police Department’s Emergency Services Team was activated.  A 10-man response team began to assemble at the corner of Union and 2^nd Court.

Uniformed officers secured a perimeter surrounding the neighborhood to prevent anyone from entering the area.

Once the area was contained, Crystal Lake Police Negotiators made contact with the individual by cellular telephone.

The subject surrendered himself to Police without incident and he was subsequently transported to Woodstock Hospital for an evaluation.

His initial report of being armed was determined to be false.

No injuries were sustained to anyone involved in this incident.

The subject’s identity is not being released due to HIPPA Privacy Rules, which protect the privacy of individuals and any identifiable health issues or information.

A source tells McHenry County Blog that the Hampton Court Apartments on Uteg Street in Crystal Lake were the subject of a lot of police activity this morning.

There was a police blockade of the street.

A SWAT Team was out.

“There are tons of cops and cop vehicles all over the place,” my source emailed at 10:30.

“They have been congregating on Second Street since early morning.

“Uteg St is blocked off from Second to the end of the block on College.”

Elementary School District 47′s Donn Mendoza sent out this message at 11 AM, which seems related to the police activity on Uteg:

Dear District 47 Families:

Please be advised that District 47 was contacted directly at 10:05am today by the Crystal Lake Police Department and informed that they were dealing with a suspicious incident of significance close to the Burger King on Route 14 in Crystal Lake.

Upon hearing this, all District 47 schools were instructed to keep all students and staff indoors and to ensure that the common practice of securing and locking exterior doors remained in effect until further notice.

At 10:35 am, we were informed by the police department that the incident had been taken care of. All District 47 schools were then given approval to resume school activities as they normally would for the remainder of the day.

At 2 PM Crystal Lake Central High School Principal Steve Olson sent the following email:

I am writing to inform you of a situation near Crystal Lake Central that transpired this morning. Crystal Lake Police informed us of a situation in the neighborhood near CLC. Working with our school resource officer, we went into a “code yellow lockdown” while police worked to resolve the issue. In a “code yellow,” students are allowed to move between classes; however, no one is allowed to enter or exit the building. This morning’s situation was resolved by Crystal Lake Police quickly, and we believe that at no time were students in danger.

Please be aware that in the rare instance when situations like this arise, we normally send out an automated phone message and email. Today, however, the situation was resolved quicker than we could send out the automated call. Still, because we believe it is important to keep you informed of experiences that are out of the ordinary for your child, I am contacting you by email.

To ensure that you receive future automated emails and phone messages, please verify that your phone numbers and email address are correct in Skyward Family Access.

I prefer grade school district Superintendent Donn Mendozza’s approach.

Donn Mendoza

An email from District 47 Superintendent Donn Mendoza:

Subject: Exciting Opportunity for District 47′s Middle School Students and Families

Dear District 47 Middle School Families:

The purpose for this correspondence is to inform you that all three District 47 middle schools will be hosting Rachel’s Challenge assemblies as well as an evening event in early October. Specifically, the dates are as follows:

• Bernotas Middle School- Wednesday, October 10th @ 8:00am- Students
• Lundahl Middle School- Thursday, October 11th @ 8:00am- Students
• Beardsley Middle School- Thursday, October 11th @ 1:00pm- Students
• Beardsley Middle School – Thursday, October 11th @ 7:00pm- Community Event for Parents and Community Members

As you are probably aware, bullying issues have received increased national attention in recent years-and rightfully so. The issue has become more prevalent across the country, but it is important to understand that it has been met with increasing local efforts by the schools and community to proactively eliminate bullying among our students and also assist you in your efforts as parents in positively shaping the character of our youth. McHenry County’s new regional superintendent of schools has been working with area districts to identify these programs and bring more light to the issue and our efforts.

To that end, we are writing to inform you of this exciting opportunity for our students, families and community members by way of Rachel’s Challenge which has reached over 17 million people since its inception.

For context, Rachel Scott was one of the unfortunate victims in the 1999 Columbine High School Tragedy. As per the website at www.rachelschallenge.org.

Each day 160,000 students do not go to school because they are bullied, teased and harassed. By turning the story of a tragic death at Columbine High School into a mission for change, Rachel’s Challenge is helping create safer learning environments and making a world-wide impact.

Rachel’s Challenge is a series of student empowering programs and strategies that equip students and adults to combat bullying and ally feelings of isolation and despair by creating a culture of kindness and compassion. The programs are based on the writings and life of 17 year-old Rachel Scott who was the first student killed at Columbine High School in 1999. Rachel left a legacy of reaching out to those who were different, who were picked on by others, or who were new at her school. Shortly before her death she wrote,

“I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far a little kindness can go.”

One of the mastheads on the Rachel’s Challenge web site.

Rachel’s Challenge was started by Rachel’s dad and stepmom, Darrell and Sandy Scott when they realized that the writings and drawings Rachel left not only had an impact on her friends and classmates, but also resonated with students around the world. Although Rachel was a typical teenager who even wrote about her “ups and downs,” she had a passion and conviction that she would someday change the world. The Scott family knew her story and passion had to be told to inspire others to make their world a better place.

The community event on October 11th at 7:00pm will serve as follow up to the assemblies. Families are invited to the evening presentation and we expect that other community leaders will be in attendance as well.

As not only the Superintendent of District 47 but also and perhaps even more importantly a parent of two District 47 students one of whom is of middle school age, I have always been impressed regarding the manner in which members of this community have consistently worked collaboratively to positively shape our youth.

This event is designed to build upon and support the rich tradition within this community of providing positive learning experiences for our children such that it has a lasting impact on them into adulthood.

In all of my 17 years as an educator, I have never experienced anything as powerful and as moving as the Rachel’s Challenge assembly I attended last year.

I am thrilled that Rachel’s Challenge is coming to District 47 and I certainly hope that you are able to join us in what I know will be a lasting and very impactful experience on the evening of October 11th. Should you have questions, please feel free to contact me at your convenience. You may also visit www.rachelschallenge.org.

Parents may choose to have their child forgo the assembly. If this is of interest to you, please contact the administrators of your middle school. Students of parents who choose this option will be provided an alternate building location in which to work during the assembly.

Very Best,

Donn P. Mendoza, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

A press release from Carpentersville School District 300:

Board approves new CFO

Susan Harkin

The District 300 Board of Education approved tonight (Tuesday, May 29) Susan Harkin as the district’s new Chief Financial Officer.

She replaces Cheryl Crates, who is retiring on June 30 after nearly eight years as D300 CFO.

Harkin will begin her employment with D300 this summer, though her effective start date is currently being determined.

A three-round selection process produced Harkin as the ideal choice for the district. Roughly two dozen persons applied for the position this spring.

They were eventually narrowed to a field of three candidates, who each faced an in-depth interview with a team of Central Office administrative leaders and support staff before going on to a final interview with Superintendent Michael Bregy and Associate Superintendent Sarah Kedroski.

Harkin earned both her bachelor’s degree in accounting and her master’s degree in school administration from Northern Illinois University. She has experience in maintaining a balanced budget, collective bargaining, upgrading infrastructure, long-rang capital improvement planning, managing payroll, developing financial projections, and overseeing operations, technology, food service, and transportation. She is currently the CFO for Crystal Lake Elementary District 47, a position she has held since 2009. Her previous employment included three years as the Associate Superintendent of Community Consolidated School District 62 in Des Plaines, as well as serving as the Business Office Manager here in D300 from 2000 to 2006.

Her prior work experience in the D300 Business Office will hasten her ability to successfully take the helm as CFO, as will her being a long-time resident of West Dundee in D300. Harkin has six children who attended and graduated from D300 schools, and she was an involved volunteer in D300 schools for many years.

But it was not only her professional and personal familiarity with D300 that set her apart in the selection process.

Tuhrough her role on the Board of Directors for the Illinois Association of School Business Officials (IASBO), Harkin has the contacts to keep D300 well informed of best practices, emerging financial issues, and relevant legislation. Su

Superintendent Bregy said that she has also demonstrated the ability and willingness to enhance the D300 Business Office’s collaboration and communication with other departments.

This will be crucial to fulfill Bregy’s vision of an operational and budgetary structure that is more directly aligned with the district’s teaching and learning goals.

“Susan was chosen not only because of her financial and leadership skills but also her natural ability to build effective relationships and passion to improve the quality education for all students,” Bregy said.

“Susan facilitates rather than dominates, and she will be a refreshingly positive part of our new team.”

= = = = =
Harkin makes $146,000 in Crystal Lake. She will receive $165,000 at District 300.

Hit by a van and flow first to Centegra’s Level 2 Trauma Center and then transferred to Advocate Lutheran General’s Level 1 Trauma center is reported in “stable condition” by the Daily Herald.

Another source is much more optimistic, saying Ashley Andre is “miraculously unharmed except for bumps on her head.”

The twelve-year old was hit by a van towing a trailer.

The Crystal Lake Police Department’s press release, plus a overhead look at the accident site is here.

Here is what Crystal Lake Grade School District 47 says.

Here’s what is on the Hannah Beardsley Middle School web site:

Attention! – Dear District 47 Families:

Earlier today, November 2, 2011, a District 47 middle school student was struck by an automobile as she was attempting to cross a community street on her way to school.

The student was airlifted to Lutheran General Hospital and is receiving the very best treatment for the injuries she sustained in the accident.

We are unbelievably grateful to the police and medical professionals in our Crystal Lake community for the promptness in their response and handling of this unbelievably unfortunate incident.

District staff has and will remain in contact with the child’s family as we monitor her condition.

We have provided additional social services support at the aforementioned student’s school if needed by students or staff members during this very difficult time.

As the Superintendent of School District 47, I am respectfully requesting that all of you have discussions with your children regarding the importance of awareness and safety while walking to and from school.

Your support is appreciated.

Sincerely,

Donn P. Mendoza, Ed.D.
Superintendent

Larry Snow

“While Democrats say Teachers ‘Have Kept Their Part of the Deal?’“

is the title of an April 5, 2011, article by former Huntley School District 158 Board member Larry Snow.  (The quote was in the Chicago Tribune Marcy 31, 2011.  It is from Executive Director Dick Ingram of Teachers’ Retirement System.)

The article was published in “The Champion” with this teaser:

“82,981 of 132,502 Illinois Teachers Pay Nothing or Little into Their Pensions“

That’s 63% of all teachers in Illinois.

The State Journal-Register is reporting that State Rep. Kevin McCarthy (D-Orland Park) is promoting a bill where state and local governments would all pay six percent of payroll toward employee pensions.

In a revealing sentence in reporter Chris Wetterich’s article, he writes,

“What’s unclear is how much more employees themselves would have to pay.“

Because no one has done the research except, I believe, the Illinois Education Association and Snow, how much extra teachers would have to pay if their so-called contribution rate was raised from 9.4% to 13.77% is a really good question.

While not covering every school district in Illinois, Snow did research the teachers’ contracts for all of the large school districts (by law all are supposed to be on the internet) in order to find out how much teachers pay in order to get a “full 75 percent pension after working only 27 years.” He points out, “Most adults work for 27 years before they turn age 50.”

As way of background, Snow notes that teachers are not in the Social Security System and, therefore, are not forced to pay Social Security taxes.

“Ordinary workers get hit with a 6.2 percent deduction for Social Security,” Snow writes. “It’s a deduction they have to pay federal and state income taxes on.

“Democrats gave teachers a huge loophole of not paying income taxes on any of their pension deductions” he continues. “This enormous no-tax handout to teachers amounts to billions of dollars each year.”

Snow’s research leads him to this conclusion:

“Over 51,000 of the total 132,502 teachers in Illinois contribute nothing from their K-12 paychecks into their pensions. Illinois law says it is to be 9.4 percent.

“About an additional 32,000 teachers pay little into their pensions. It is 1.81 percent to be precise for these 31,956 teachers.“

How many teachers pay not a dime toward their retirement?

51,025 teachers in 186 school districts pay nothing for retirement benefits.

They “don’t pay a penny into the 9.4 percent called out by Illinois law.

“There are a total of 868 districts in Illinois.

“The pay-zero teachers listed are 39 percent of all teachers in Illinois,” Snow reveals.

No agency in state government seems to keep track of this information.

Not the Downstate Teachers Retirement Fund, which boldly and incorrectly claims,

“Active TRS members are required to contribute 9.4 percent of their creditable earnings each year…”

The State Board of Education doesn’t keep track either.

My guess is that only the Illinois Education Association has a matrix showing what school districts have given what benefits in contract negotiations.

Snow discovered this about Lockport:

“…on page 14 of the Lockport Township HS 205 teachers contract it reads:

1. The Board will pay the current level of retirement contribution to the Teachers Retirement System of Illinois.”
2. It is expressly understood that figures appearing on this salary schedule include a sum equal to the current level of TRS contribution of the base salary of each Teacher which is, in fact, payable to the Teachers’ Retirement System on the Teacher’s behalf.”

“The ISBE report shows this board paying nothing. A Democrat bureaucracy doesn’t check the teachers contracts to see if what is reported, matches what’s in writing.”

And, if legislation is passed requiring 4.37 percentage points more, how long do you think it will take Lockport taxpayers to pick up the difference?

Given that local teachers’ unions pretty much control school boards wherever they are elected (read everywhere but Chicago), my guess is will be on the top of the collective bargaining list.

Do you wonder if Rep. McCarthy knows that?

Is his proposal just a setting up local taxpayers for an even bigger fall?

Five years from now will 39% of teachers still be paying nothing for their pensions?

Even better for teachers is that this pension payment ups their pension payments.

Take a look at the chart below.  Chances are your school district is on it.

Chart of Pension Contributions by 82,981 District Teachers of 132,502 Total Illinois K-12 Teachers

Name of District	No. of Teachers	Percent of Pension Contributed by Teachers
Thornton Twp 205	428	Zero
Proviso 209	281	Zero
Waukegan 60	1,098	Zero
Morton 201	455	Zero
Kankakee 111	348	Zero
Joliet 204	340	Zero
Round Lake 116	387	Zero
Rockford	1,843	Zero
Decatur 61	454	Zero
Crete Monee	340	Zero
Danville 118	382	Zero
Valley View 365	1,068	Zero
Aurora West 129	706	Zero
East Peoria 309	69	Zero
Galesburg	281	Zero
Bremen 228	313	Zero
Freeport	317	Zero
Leyden 212	219	Zero
Elgin U-46	2,332	Zero
Rock Island	388	Zero
Mattoon	225	Zero
Collinsville	394	Zero
Massac 1	143	Zero
Sterling	219	Zero
Belvidere	531	Zero
Quincy	436	Zero
Dixon	179	Zero
West Chicago	248	Zero
Cook County 130	289	Zero
Cicero 99	738	Zero
Joliet 86	617	Zero
Harvey 152	163	Zero
Crystal Lake 155	412	Zero
Crystal Lake 47	564	Zero
Wheeling 21	489	Zero
Champaign 4	717	Zero
United CUSD 304	68	Zero
Riverdale 100	76	Zero
Reed Custer 255	114	Zero
Wilmington 209U	84	Zero
United Township 30	90	Zero
Summit Hill 161	213	Zero
Plainfield	1,695	Zero
Schiller Park 81	98	Zero
Dolton 149	176	Zero
Township 211 Palatine	799	Zero
Ball Chatham 5	248	Zero
Taylorville 3	152	Zero
Williamsville 15	81	Zero
Harrisburg 3	130	Zero
Belleville 201	281	Zero
Dupo 196	76	Zero
O’Fallon 203	145	Zero
O’Fallon 90	207	Zero
Rochester 3A	142	Zero
Pekin 108	248	Zero
Morton 709	175	Zero
New Lenox 122	287	Zero
Frankfort 157	158	Zero
Marion 2	219	Zero
Carterville 5	110	Zero
Kinnikinnick 131	122	Zero
Tolono 7	116	Zero
Mahomet-Seymour 3	161	Zero
Champaign 4	717	Zero
Urbana	346	Zero
Charleston 1	180	Zero
Park Ridge 64	319	Zero
Evanston 202	222	Zero
Maine HSD 207	508	Zero
Arlington Heights 214	753	Zero
Niles 219	350	Zero
Berkeley 87	165	Zero
Berwyn South	263	Zero
Lyons 204	239	Zero
Lemont 113	144	Zero
Palatine 15	713	Zero
Schaumburg 54	1,003	Zero
Oak Lawn 123	203	Zero
Oak Lawn 229	114	Zero
CHSD 230 Orland Park	519	Zero
Argo 217	111	Zero
Homewood 233	174	Zero
Genoa 424	137	Zero
Sycamore 427	231	Zero
Dekalb 428	362	Zero
Lombard 44	216	Zero
Downers Grove 58	277	Zero
Hinsdale 86	296	Zero
Elmhurst 205	538	Zero
Naperville 203	1,063	Zero
Effingham 40	176	Zero
Canton Union 66	175	Zero
Morris 54	61	Zero
Morris 101	50	Zero
Coal City 1	138	Zero
Jersey 100	164	Zero
Central CUSD 301	224	Zero
Kaneland 302	275	Zero
St. Charles 303	880	Zero
Cahokia	298	0.4
Chicago Public Schools	23,219	2
Peoria 150	988	0.4
Springfield	1,105	0.4
Moline 40	461	0.4
Harvard	149	0.87
Dolton 148	236	1.4
Belleville 118	228	0.4
Pekin 303	125	0.4
Hononegah 207	118	0.4
Arlington Heights 59	444	3
Leyden 212	219	0.4
Summit 104	103	0.4
Palos 118	130	0.4
CHSD 219 Orland Park	519	0.4
Bensenville 2	145	1.4
DuPage 88	266	0.4
CHSD 94	122	0.9
CUSD 300	1,189	4.4
Hawthorn 73	253	1.4
Lake Forest 115	132	0.4
Wauconda 118	273	0.4
Johnsburg 12	158	0.4
Cary 26	192	4.9
Woodstock 200	385	1.4
Keeneyville 20	107	0.4
Winnebago 323	117	0.4
LaSalle-Peru Twp. 120	88	0.7
Prairie-Hills 144	187	0.4
Geneva 304	367	Zero
Herscher 2	126	Zero
Manteno 5	160	Zero
Bourbonnais 53	160	Zero
Bradley 61	103	Zero
Bradley Bourbonnais 307	114	Zero
Momence 1	88	Zero
Yorkville 115	329	Zero
Plano 88	154	Zero
Oswego 308	827	Zero
Streator 44	132	Zero
Ottawa 141	140	Zero
Ottawa 140	102	Zero
Glenview 34	343	Zero
Zion 6	177	Zero
Grayslake 46	266	Zero
Elmwood Park 401	181	Zero
Libertyville 70	159	Zero
North Shore 112	374	Zero
HSD 113 Highland Park	249	Zero
Grant 124	91	Zero
Zion-Benton 126	156	Zero
Evanston 65	547	Zero
Grayslake 127	187	Zero
Meridian 15	64	Zero
Mt. Zion 3	133	Zero
Edwardsville 7	480	Zero
Alton 11	467	Zero
Macomb 185	130	Zero
McHenry 15	282	Zero
McHenry 156	158	Zero
Nippersink 2	92	Zero
Columbia 4	111	Zero
Waterloo 5	166	Zero
Hillsboro 3	114	Zero
Meridian 223	113	Zero
Illinois Valley Central 321	139	Zero
Carbondale 165	76	Zero
Carbondale 95	105	Zero
Riverton 14	85	Zero
Auburn 10	90	Zero
Pawnee 11	47	Zero
Panhandle 2	35	Zero
Sullivan 300	75	Zero
Centralia 135	93	Zero
Litchfield 12	83	Zero
Harlem 122	505	Zero
Granite City 9	617	Zero
Princeton 115	86	Zero
Princeton 500	43	Zero
Bond County 2	120	Zero
Duquoin CUSD 300	101	Zero
Rocton 140	102	Zero
Rochelle Twp. HSD 212	71	Zero
Rochelle CCSD 231	131	Zero
Byron 226	127	Zero
Oregon 220	104	Zero
Farmington Central 265	85	Zero
Porta 202	75	Zero
River Bend 2	71	Zero
Red Bud 132	73	Zero
Sparta 140	105	Zero
Southwestern 9	107	Zero
Staunton 6	87	Zero
Gillespie 7	81	Zero
Hamilton County 10	83	Zero
Midwest Central 191	85	Zero
Tuscola 301	86	Zero
West Carroll 314	99	Zero
Oakwood 76	64	Zero
Hoopeston 11	94	Zero
Westville 2	80	Zero
Beardstown 15	98	Zero
El Paso-Gridley 11	99	Zero
Murphysboro 186	137	Zero
Monticello 25	111	Zero
Paris-Union 95	74	Zero
Mt. Vernon Twp. 210	80	Zero
Mt. Vernon 80	109	Zero
Jasper County 1	101	Zero
Steger 194	128	Zero
Calumet City 155	77	Zero
North Boone 200	116	Zero
CCSD 93 Carol Stream	294	Zero
East Maine SD 63	254	Zero
Lockport Township HS 205	205	Zero
Above Teachers Total	82,981

McHenry County Blog has surveyed school districts with major presences in McHenry County and discovered that union employees paid $3.8 million in dues during calendar year 2010.

The total amount was $3,825,572.

Contracts are typically for more than one year and most expenses would in contract negotiation year.

Most are from dues paid by teachers, but there are also office worker and school bus drivers.

Most go to the Illinois Education Association-National Education Association.

Part of the collective bargaining proposal made by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is to end mandatory union membership.

Illinois, of course, has laws that force all employees of a bargaining unit to pay dues.

The legislation would require that teacher union officials collect their own dues, rather than having as a payroll deduction, as is the case in all of the districts below.

To no one’s surprise, employees of the largest district examined, Carpentersville Unit District 300, paid the most dues.  The total was over $1.1 million.

• Barrington Unit District 220 – $554,555
• Alden-Hebron Unit District 19 – $22,427
• Cary Grade School District 26 – $52,254
• Crystal Lake Grade School District 47 – 315,342
• Crystal Lake High School District 155 – $287,202
• Carpentersville Unit District 300 – $1,122,392
• Fox River Grove Grade School District 3 – $23,599
• Harvard Unit School District 50 – $96,745
• Huntley Unit School District 158 – $356,047
• Johnsburg Unit District 12 – $106,055
• Marengo-Union Grade School District 165 – $48,778
• Marengo High School District 154 – $30,005
• McHenry Grade School District 15 – $207,111
• McHenry High School District 156 – $109,331
• Prairie Grove Grade School District 46 – $10,863
• Richmond-Burton (Nippersink) Grade School District 2 – $59,429
• Richmond-Burton High School District 157 – $37,592
• Riley Grade School District 18 – $9,161
• Wonder Lake (Harrison) School District 36 – $13,249
• Woodstock Unit School District 200 – $372,595

Teachers walk picket line outside Huntley High School in 2008.