McHenry County Blog

With everything over but the approval vote of the Huntley District 158 School Board on Monday night, I think it is appropriate to give respect to the union negotiators who convinced school board members to approve the generous 3-year contract.

When combined with what the Huntley Education Association union accomplished in the past, as is seen below in an article published this week in The Champion News, you get an idea why I think their button, which you see here, is appropriate:

Huntley CSD 158

Average Pay Increases and Estimated Pensions

The following charts measure pay increases, not decreases. They answer a simple question: “For those full time employees who received more money from the first year to the last within a time frame, what is the average pay increase?” The salary data used comes directly from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Our pension calculation is based upon what’s possible when an individual is at least 55 years old with 34 years of service. Those with less than 34 years who continue to work will, in most cases, have higher pensions than those calculated. Those members who retire with less than 34 years may have lower pensions than those calculated. For information on the Teachers’ Retirement System in Illinois click here.

We encourage you to click on the percentages below to see the full list and the actual dollar amounts. How do they compare to your own pay increases and pension?

Average One-Year Pay Increase: Teachers Administrators Inflation

1998/1999 – 1999/2000 10.8% 5.3% 3.4%

1999/2000 – 2000/2001 7.7% 13.7% 1.6%

2000/2001 – 2001/2002 8.5% 16.5% 2.4%

2001/2002 – 2002/2003 10.6% 9.5% 1.9%

2002/2003 – 2003/2004 14.2% 8.9% 3.3%

2003/2004 – 2004/2005 8.0% 4.3% 3.4%

Average Three-Year Pay Increase

AND Estimated Pensions: Teachers Administrators Inflation

(CPI) [seen to the right]

1999/2000 – 2002/2003 26.5% 30.1% 5.9%

2000/2001 – 2003/2004 37.1% 35.2% 7.6%

2001/2002 – 2004/2005 33.7% 21.5% 8.6%

According to the Social Security Administration, the average Social Security check for retired Illinoisans is $1,000 per month, $12,000 per year.

To learn more about teacher pay, click here. To learn more about teacher pensions and other benefits, click here.

= = = = =

Sorry Google’s Blogger will not let me line up the columns they were in the original article.

With everything over but the approval vote of the Huntley District 158 School Board on Monday night, I think it is appropriate to give respect to the union negotiators who convinced school board members to approve the generous 3-year contract.

When combined with what the Huntley Education Association union accomplished in the past, as is seen below in an article published this week in The Champion News, you get an idea why I think their button, which you see here, is appropriate:

Huntley CSD 158

Average Pay Increases and Estimated Pensions

The following charts measure pay increases, not decreases. They answer a simple question: “For those full time employees who received more money from the first year to the last within a time frame, what is the average pay increase?” The salary data used comes directly from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Our pension calculation is based upon what’s possible when an individual is at least 55 years old with 34 years of service. Those with less than 34 years who continue to work will, in most cases, have higher pensions than those calculated. Those members who retire with less than 34 years may have lower pensions than those calculated. For information on the Teachers’ Retirement System in Illinois click here.

We encourage you to click on the percentages below to see the full list and the actual dollar amounts. How do they compare to your own pay increases and pension?

Average One-Year Pay Increase: Teachers Administrators Inflation

1998/1999 – 1999/2000 10.8% 5.3% 3.4%

1999/2000 – 2000/2001 7.7% 13.7% 1.6%

2000/2001 – 2001/2002 8.5% 16.5% 2.4%

2001/2002 – 2002/2003 10.6% 9.5% 1.9%

2002/2003 – 2003/2004 14.2% 8.9% 3.3%

2003/2004 – 2004/2005 8.0% 4.3% 3.4%

Average Three-Year Pay Increase

AND Estimated Pensions: Teachers Administrators Inflation

(CPI) [seen to the right]

1999/2000 – 2002/2003 26.5% 30.1% 5.9%

2000/2001 – 2003/2004 37.1% 35.2% 7.6%

2001/2002 – 2004/2005 33.7% 21.5% 8.6%

According to the Social Security Administration, the average Social Security check for retired Illinoisans is $1,000 per month, $12,000 per year.

To learn more about teacher pay, click here. To learn more about teacher pensions and other benefits, click here.

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Sorry Google’s Blogger will not let me line up the columns they were in the original article.

I don’t know what he’s hunting for, but Jack Roeser just donated another $25,000 to his Family Taxpayers Network.

In the last six months of last year here are the candidates who got contributions from FTN:

• Jim Krenz, running for state representative against Tim Schmitz – $10,000
• Jim MacRunnels, running for Kane County Board chairman – $10,000
• Nick Provenzano, candidate for re-election to the McHenry County Board – $1,000
• Lou Bianchi, candidate for re-election as McHenry County State’s Attorney – $1,000
• Terry Hunt, candidate for state representative to replace Pat Lindner – $5,000

I don’t know what he’s hunting for, but Jack Roeser just donated another $25,000 to his Family Taxpayers Network.

In the last six months of last year here are the candidates who got contributions from FTN:

• Jim Krenz, running for state representative against Tim Schmitz – $10,000
• Jim MacRunnels, running for Kane County Board chairman – $10,000
• Nick Provenzano, candidate for re-election to the McHenry County Board – $1,000
• Lou Bianchi, candidate for re-election as McHenry County State’s Attorney – $1,000
• Terry Hunt, candidate for state representative to replace Pat Lindner – $5,000

While my email was in limbo last weekend I guess I missed this clearance of newly elected District 300 school board members John Ryan and Monica Clark.

Hearing Officer Tony Morgando wrote two long paragraphs about Nancy Zetter’s complaint, which you can see here. I shall break them up to make them easier to read on this screen.

“A review of the documents and statements in this matter clearly establishes the Family Taxpayers Network, as a major funding source in the campaigns of Mr. John Ryan and Ms. Monica Clark.

“Both candidates indicate acceptance of yard signs from the Family Taxpayers Network promoting their campaign in mid-March, 2007, at a cost of $1,320. The parties to the complaint were in agreement that the campaign mailer/postcard produced by the Family Taxpayers Network was received by residents in the district on April 10th, or 11th, 2007, at a combined cost of $2,539.32.

“The respondents state that the notification of the in-kind contributions was received on April 27th (Ms. Clark) and April 30th (Mr. Ryan).

“Based upon these dates, it appears the candidates were liable to file a Statement of Organization (From D-1 ) ‘within 10 business days of the creation of such committee’, 10/ILCS 5/9-3. It is the opinion of the Hearing Examiner, that both candidates filed their Statement of Organization within the statutory time limit.

“Also, based on the dates presented above, it appears the candidates were not liable to file a Pre-Election Report for the April 17th, 2007, election, as such reporting period, January 1st, – March 18th, 2007, was prior to the creation of date of the political committees: April 30th, 2007 (Mr. Ryan) and April 15th (Ms. Clark).

“The Hearing Examiner feels the Complainant had reasons to believe violations of the Disclosure Act had occurred, therefore it is the opinion of the Hearing Examiner that the complaint was filed on justifiable grounds, but recommends no further action on the Board be taken on this matter.

“The Hearing Officer further recommends that the Board in its Final Order, serve notice upon the Respondents that as candidates they ‘have the responsibility to report such in-kind contributions or expenditures from the donor if it actually knows or reasonably should have known from the facts available to it that an in-kind contribution had been made in its behalf’, Adm. R&R 100.120.”

So, it turns out pretty much as predicted on McHenry County Blog right after Zettler filed her complaint.

Let me repeat what I said then:

I can understand Zettler’s frustration.

During the three Republican primary elections I was under siege by Personal PAC, their mailings and phone calls did not show up in campaign disclosure forms until after the primary election.

I think they should show up ahead of the election, but that, apparently, would require a change in state law.

Maybe Zettler’s lobbying can be expanded from trying to raise our income taxes to changing the campaign disclosure laws.

I’d be happy to join her in such an effort.

In this case, however, one would have to be blind not to figure out that the Family Taxpayers Network was helping Clark and Ryan.

Take a look at the return address on the literature.

I’d add that learning who is paying for a campaign is the purpose of the Campaign Disclosure Act and Zettler and anyone who could read knew it as well.

= = = = =
You can click on the recommendations to make it large enough to read.

While my email was in limbo last weekend I guess I missed this clearance of newly elected District 300 school board members John Ryan and Monica Clark.

Hearing Officer Tony Morgando wrote two long paragraphs about Nancy Zetter’s complaint, which you can see here. I shall break them up to make them easier to read on this screen.

“A review of the documents and statements in this matter clearly establishes the Family Taxpayers Network, as a major funding source in the campaigns of Mr. John Ryan and Ms. Monica Clark.

“Both candidates indicate acceptance of yard signs from the Family Taxpayers Network promoting their campaign in mid-March, 2007, at a cost of $1,320. The parties to the complaint were in agreement that the campaign mailer/postcard produced by the Family Taxpayers Network was received by residents in the district on April 10th, or 11th, 2007, at a combined cost of $2,539.32.

“The respondents state that the notification of the in-kind contributions was received on April 27th (Ms. Clark) and April 30th (Mr. Ryan).

“Based upon these dates, it appears the candidates were liable to file a Statement of Organization (From D-1 ) ‘within 10 business days of the creation of such committee’, 10/ILCS 5/9-3. It is the opinion of the Hearing Examiner, that both candidates filed their Statement of Organization within the statutory time limit.

“Also, based on the dates presented above, it appears the candidates were not liable to file a Pre-Election Report for the April 17th, 2007, election, as such reporting period, January 1st, – March 18th, 2007, was prior to the creation of date of the political committees: April 30th, 2007 (Mr. Ryan) and April 15th (Ms. Clark).

“The Hearing Examiner feels the Complainant had reasons to believe violations of the Disclosure Act had occurred, therefore it is the opinion of the Hearing Examiner that the complaint was filed on justifiable grounds, but recommends no further action on the Board be taken on this matter.

“The Hearing Officer further recommends that the Board in its Final Order, serve notice upon the Respondents that as candidates they ‘have the responsibility to report such in-kind contributions or expenditures from the donor if it actually knows or reasonably should have known from the facts available to it that an in-kind contribution had been made in its behalf’, Adm. R&R 100.120.”

So, it turns out pretty much as predicted on McHenry County Blog right after Zettler filed her complaint.

Let me repeat what I said then:

I can understand Zettler’s frustration.

During the three Republican primary elections I was under siege by Personal PAC, their mailings and phone calls did not show up in campaign disclosure forms until after the primary election.

I think they should show up ahead of the election, but that, apparently, would require a change in state law.

Maybe Zettler’s lobbying can be expanded from trying to raise our income taxes to changing the campaign disclosure laws.

I’d be happy to join her in such an effort.

In this case, however, one would have to be blind not to figure out that the Family Taxpayers Network was helping Clark and Ryan.

Take a look at the return address on the literature.

I’d add that learning who is paying for a campaign is the purpose of the Campaign Disclosure Act and Zettler and anyone who could read knew it as well.

= = = = =
You can click on the recommendations to make it large enough to read.

As Huntley School District 158’s Strategic Plan is criticized for its teachers’ lack of acceptance, Carpentersville District 300 is unveiling its $80,000 survey results for various stakeholders.

I haven’t had time to look at it, but Thursday’s Elgin Courier-News article by Rebecca O’Halloran delivers a doozy of a lead:

”More than half of the 10,458 community members who responded to a strategic planning surveygraded Community Unit School District 300 a “D” or “F” in financial management.”

Guess that might help explain why John Ryan and Monica Clark won election to the board in April.

“The community has not felt that the board, up until this time, and the administration have conducted their financial affairs as transparently as both could and should,” O’Halloran quotes Ryan.

And the responding public fears that population growth will lead to higher taxes.

They’ve got that right.

And the developers will finance tax hike committees like Advance 300 so they can enormously outspend taxpayers and even heavy-hitters like Jack Roeser’s Family Taxpayers Network.

Here’s Northwest Herald reporter David Fitzgerald’s take of Tuesday night’s meeting.

“Perception is reality,” Fitzgerald quotes District 300 Superintendent Ken Arndt.

The article continues,

And if that is true, then District 300 students are proud to be products of the school system, yet are unchallenged, felt unprepared for college, do not have adequate technology instruction and perceive their high schools to tolerate drug use, according to the results of the strategic plan.

And, here’s Jeff Gaunt’s, for the Daily Herald.

Gaunt characterizes it as “a snapshot of what many in the community feel about the district.”

He points out that more than one-third of high school graduates do not feel prepared for life, but 90% of teachers say they teach to state standards.

And true to almost every consultant’s report, it comes down on the side of the people paying the money:

“Overall, the district is doing better than people perceive,” consultant ECRA Group is quoted by the Daily Herald.

I would note that presidents and governors are criticized for deciding what to do based on the most recent poll results.

I don’t know if a similar criticism would be relevant here or not

As Huntley School District 158’s Strategic Plan is criticized for its teachers’ lack of acceptance, Carpentersville District 300 is unveiling its $80,000 survey results for various stakeholders.

I haven’t had time to look at it, but Thursday’s Elgin Courier-News article by Rebecca O’Halloran delivers a doozy of a lead:

”More than half of the 10,458 community members who responded to a strategic planning surveygraded Community Unit School District 300 a “D” or “F” in financial management.”

Guess that might help explain why John Ryan and Monica Clark won election to the board in April.

“The community has not felt that the board, up until this time, and the administration have conducted their financial affairs as transparently as both could and should,” O’Halloran quotes Ryan.

And the responding public fears that population growth will lead to higher taxes.

They’ve got that right.

And the developers will finance tax hike committees like Advance 300 so they can enormously outspend taxpayers and even heavy-hitters like Jack Roeser’s Family Taxpayers Network.

Here’s Northwest Herald reporter David Fitzgerald’s take of Tuesday night’s meeting.

“Perception is reality,” Fitzgerald quotes District 300 Superintendent Ken Arndt.

The article continues,

And if that is true, then District 300 students are proud to be products of the school system, yet are unchallenged, felt unprepared for college, do not have adequate technology instruction and perceive their high schools to tolerate drug use, according to the results of the strategic plan.

And, here’s Jeff Gaunt’s, for the Daily Herald.

Gaunt characterizes it as “a snapshot of what many in the community feel about the district.”

He points out that more than one-third of high school graduates do not feel prepared for life, but 90% of teachers say they teach to state standards.

And true to almost every consultant’s report, it comes down on the side of the people paying the money:

“Overall, the district is doing better than people perceive,” consultant ECRA Group is quoted by the Daily Herald.

I would note that presidents and governors are criticized for deciding what to do based on the most recent poll results.

I don’t know if a similar criticism would be relevant here or not

I received this email yesterday after John Ryan returned from his Chicago hearing before the State Board of Elections hearing officer Tony Morgando:

Both Monica & I were completely exonerated. Or to put it in the parlance of the Hearing Officer, “No grounds exist that this matter be referred for public hearing”.

It was unfortunate that we had to be drawn into an unnecessary game of sour grapes.

We knew we acted appropriately and are gratified that the Board of Elections agreed.

What’s done is done.

We can now move forward with the tasks we were elected to perform.

I called Morgando to ask the results and, as I expected, he said that his recommendation on the complaints by attorney Nancy Zettler against the Family Taxpayers Network, plus District 300 board candidates John Ryan and Monica Clark, would be made to the Elections Board at its next meeting.

No details until then.

But, what Ryan writes sounds reasonable, as I wrote when I first heard of Zettler’s complaint.

Let me repeat what I said:

I can understand Zettler’s frustration.

During the three Republican primary elections I was under siege by Personal PAC, their mailings and phone calls did not show up in campaign disclosure forms until after the primary election.

I think they should show up ahead of the election, but that, apparently, would require a change in state law.

Maybe Zettler’s lobbying can be expanded from trying to raise our income taxes to changing the campaign disclosure laws.

I’d be happy to join her in such an effort.

Here is the detailed article about Zettler’s complaint.

I received this email yesterday after John Ryan returned from his Chicago hearing before the State Board of Elections hearing officer Tony Morgando:

Both Monica & I were completely exonerated. Or to put it in the parlance of the Hearing Officer, “No grounds exist that this matter be referred for public hearing”.

It was unfortunate that we had to be drawn into an unnecessary game of sour grapes.

We knew we acted appropriately and are gratified that the Board of Elections agreed.

What’s done is done.

We can now move forward with the tasks we were elected to perform.

I called Morgando to ask the results and, as I expected, he said that his recommendation on the complaints by attorney Nancy Zettler against the Family Taxpayers Network, plus District 300 board candidates John Ryan and Monica Clark, would be made to the Elections Board at its next meeting.

No details until then.

But, what Ryan writes sounds reasonable, as I wrote when I first heard of Zettler’s complaint.

Let me repeat what I said:

I can understand Zettler’s frustration.

During the three Republican primary elections I was under siege by Personal PAC, their mailings and phone calls did not show up in campaign disclosure forms until after the primary election.

I think they should show up ahead of the election, but that, apparently, would require a change in state law.

Maybe Zettler’s lobbying can be expanded from trying to raise our income taxes to changing the campaign disclosure laws.

I’d be happy to join her in such an effort.

Here is the detailed article about Zettler’s complaint.