Riley and Harrison (Wonder Lake) Grade School Districts Only Ones in McHenry County to Avoid Teacher Pension Spiking Penalties

The following article is reprinted with the permission of the Illinois News Network.  You will note it was written by former Northwest Herald Editor Brett Rowland> INN investigation: McHenry County schools continue to pad pensions, pay $620k in penalties for … Continue reading

How Did McHenry County Schools Spend Our 2016 Tax Dollars?

Here’s a table that shows school superintend and teacher salaries for McHenry County school districts, as well as class sizes. A Friend of McHenry County Blog did the heavy lifting in manipulating this data. You will note that Marengo-Union and … Continue reading

2016 Teacher Salaries in McHenry County Schools

Wish later statistics were available, but the information is still interesting. Besides the average salaries, the percentage of school operating budgets that go for teachers’ salaries is provided. The highest average teacher salary is found in Crystal Lake High School … Continue reading

2016 Statistics for McHenry County Schools – Spending per Pupil & per Classroom

Yesterday we looked at demographic information about McHenry County school districts. Today, with the help of a Friend of McHenry County Blog, we shall explore information on how the money is spent. Two statistics are shown below: Expenditures per pupil … Continue reading

Riley School Board Election Attracts Bryan Millard as Write-In Candidate

Bryan Millard has filed the paperwork to run as a write-in candidate for the Riley Grade School Board. On the ballot are the following: Anita M. Mitchell (incumbent) Timothy Aubry (incumbent) Rick Nordmeyer (incumbent) … Continue reading

Comparing School Tax Totals – 2015 and 2016 Collections

Schools are the tax districts that take most money in every part of McHenry County. Below is a comparison of what was levied last year for collection this year and what was asked for the year before. Thanks again to … Continue reading

McHenry County Schools Asking for 1.23% More This Year

Below you can see what McHenry County school districts will be asking to extract from your checking or escrow accounts this year. You will note that all of them put together are requesting 1.23% more, although the rate of inflation … Continue reading

Former Riley School Board President and Husband of Township Supervisor Beats Rand Paul Delegate for GOP Precinct Committeeman

In Riley Township there is only one precinct. The winner, by a vote of 367-143 was former Riley Grade School Board President Kurt Schnable. He got 71.4% of the Republican ballots cast for Precinct Committeeman. His wife is Riley Township … Continue reading

School Stats including Cost per Classroom

Here are some 2013 McHenry County school statistics–average expenditure per pupil and per classroom, plus average teach salary–to ponder. They were calculated by a Friend of McHenry County Blog. I don’t think I have seen average spending per classroom for … Continue reading

Teacher Salary Spikes

The Chicago Tribune’s Education superb Reporter Diane Rado has examined the cost to local taxpayers of school boards that increased teachers’ salaries more than allowed by law just before they retired.  Her main article can be found here. Reported in … Continue reading

McHenry County Tax Take Up by 1.5% or $12 Million

Last year McHenry County real estate taxpayers were billed $797,419,250.88. This year the McHenry County Clerk’s Office has determined that bills amounting to $809,385,180.76 will be issued. That’s a dollar increase of $11,965,930, a percentage increase of 1.5%. The Property … Continue reading

Most McHenry County Schools Announce Monday Day Off Because of Extreme Cold

From Woodstock District 200: All District 200 schools and Kids Club will be closed on Monday, January 6, 2014. All after school activities, practices, evening events, sports and outside user activities will also be cancelled. Phone and email messages confirming … Continue reading

$3.8 Million in Local School Employee Union Dues of Local School Employees

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 … Continue reading

Fights Over Grade School Board Membership

Only five elementary school districts in McHenry County have contests for school board. Two are in the southwest corner, one in the northeast corner and two in the southeastern part of the county. In Richmond-Spring Grove (Nippersink) Grade School District … Continue reading