Union Dues at McHenry High School District

Since McHenry High School District 156 has the hottest school board race in the county, I thought readers might like to know how much its employees spend in union dues. And the envelope, please… $109,331. There are 158 teachers. Operating … Continue reading

Prediction of the Winners in the McHenry High School Board Race

So, who’s going to be the three victors out of the thirteen candidates for the McHenry High School District 156 board contest? Tell me which of the thirteen are endorsed by the teachers union and I’ll tell on whom I … Continue reading

Keeping Right to Strike Tops Agenda as IEA Teachers Union Tries to Motivate Its Members

It’s hard to believe that the Illinois Education Association is on the defensive with Democrats so solidly in control of the Illinois General Assembly, but reading the post card below certainly leads to that conclusion. It was preceded by a … Continue reading

IEA Union Leader Urges Action to Protect Teacher Rights

The following telephone message received by a McHenry County teacher and presumably all other Illinois Education Association members: This is IEA President Ken Swanson with an urgent message about a legislative emergency You will be receiving in the mail an … Continue reading

Special Interests for Jack Franks Mainly Unions, but “Sheriff of McHenry County” on List

The invitation is out for State Rep. Jack Franks October fund raiser. That’s the one where he solicited all over McHenry County and beyond building a political base for his anticipated run for the United States Congress in 2012. As … Continue reading

What Wasn’t in the Local Papers About Cary 26 Grade School’s “Windfall”?

It is always interesting to see how the journalists and editors in the local newspapers describe something and then compare such descriptions with source documents. Here’s how the people who made their proposal to the Cary 26 school board described … Continue reading

Teacher Union Republicans

The Rev. and State Senator James Meeks’ voucher bill (Senate Bill 2494 ) to allow Chicago Public School students from failing and overcrowded schools to attend the private school of their parents’ choice with a relatively small portion of the … Continue reading

Local State Reps Back Dillard and Hynes

Happened upon the endorsement of State Senator Kirk Dillard by Crystal Lake’s State Rep. Mike Tryon. If anything has been made of it, except listing it on Dillard’s web site in a press release announcing that the Sangamon County Republican … Continue reading

Pam Althoff Letter Endorsing Kirk Dillard Arrives

As U.S. House Democratic Party Speaker Tip O’Neill said, “All politics is local.” So, I guess that puts McHenry County Blog in the right place for those who want to know about “local.” That’s what McLean County Pundit reminds readers … Continue reading

Tougher Teacher/Administrator Evaluations You Will Never See

Remember the smoking Nazi guy from “Laugh-In” who used to say, “Very interesting” That was my reaction as I read this article in the Daily Herald yesterday. It is so typical of Illinois school politics. The Federal government is trying … Continue reading

Jack Franks Praises Teachers and Nurses

When I was in Woodstock Saturday, here was State Rep. Jack Franks’ message to Route 47 drivers: CELEBRATE TEACHER & NURSEAPPRECIATION WEEK Lots of teachers—90,000 in the Illinois Education Association advertising for a “revenue increase” on radio this weekend—and nurses. … Continue reading

Present Versus Future Salaries for Teachers

Year after year, when the choice came down to pump more money into State Aid to Education or pay pay the state’s share of pension payments, teacher unions took the money and ran. As far back as the 1970’s, current … Continue reading

Pam Althoff Explains What She Did re the Harvard School’s Pension Busting Effort

After finding the email from Harvard School Superintendent Lauri Tobias, I contacted State Senator Pam Althoff, whose name she invoked in her email to McHenry County school superintendents, and asked for her reaction. Althoff called this morning. Here’s what she … Continue reading

Pam Althoff Explains What She Did re the Harvard School’s Pension Busting Effort

After finding the email from Harvard School Superintendent Lauri Tobias, I contacted State Senator Pam Althoff, whose name she invoked in her email to McHenry County school superintendents, and asked for her reaction. Althoff called this morning. Here’s what she … Continue reading

Huntley Education Association Middle School Teacher Trashes School Board

Huntley middle school teacher Mark Stahl, the lead negotiator for the teachers’ union, made a presentation to the union membership on Tuesday afternoon. The “presentation,” dripping with sarcasm and bashing the Huntley School Board, which apparently the union no longer … Continue reading

Huntley Education Association Middle School Teacher Trashes School Board

Huntley middle school teacher Mark Stahl, the lead negotiator for the teachers’ union, made a presentation to the union membership on Tuesday afternoon. The “presentation,” dripping with sarcasm and bashing the Huntley School Board, which apparently the union no longer … Continue reading

Politics and Union Dues

Here’s an interesting comment from Jameson Campaigne which was posted under my Huntley School District 158 teacher union dues article on Illinois Review. I thought you and area teachers might like to read it. Cal — As you well know, … Continue reading

Politics and Union Dues

Here’s an interesting comment from Jameson Campaigne which was posted under my Huntley School District 158 teacher union dues article on Illinois Review. I thought you and area teachers might like to read it. Cal — As you well know, … Continue reading