McHenry County Blog

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

After the Daily Herald caught 26th state senate district Democratic Party candidate Bill Gentes saying that he was on a leave of absence when he had been fired, the Daily Herald ran a story.

This is the first time I remember the Northwest Herald’s citing a Daily Herald story as the source of an article.

To do that means it is an important development in the 26th district contest with Dan Duffy.

Actually, the NW Herald article is mild compared to Round Lake School Board member and former Illinois Libertarian Party State Chairman W. Guy Finley’s “Stay the Course” blog story.

On its front page is a photo of mine from which Finley has extracted just Gentes’ eyes and nose.

The scathing headline is indicative of the story’s content:

Finley talks about “Lying eyes,” going on to describe a developer impact disagreement that the school board had with the Round Lake Mayor about development impact fees.

Before the meeting, Finley said he had a lot of respect for the mayor.

But not afterward.

Here’s what Finley wrote,

“…he demanded RLAS (Round Lake Area Schools) come to an agreement with a developer to lower our impact fees or he would dictate to us what we would get.

“We had researched our impact fees before adopting them and they were in line with other school districts.

“But because the developer had been quoted fees from several years ago and had already negotiated impact fees with other entities they were unwilling to give RLAS what we wanted.

“Here I thought Bill would step in on our behalf, we’re under state oversight after all and we’re talking about critical funds to help provide infrastructure for the additional kids we would take on, and he was telling me our fees were way out of line.

“He then accused me of threatening him when I said I would take my case to the village trustees and said,

‘Do you know who runs the village, Guy?’

“I hesitated and replied,

‘The board of trustees.’

“Bill leaned forward in his chair towards me at that point and said,

‘No, Guy, the mayor does’

as he pointed a finger into his chest looking dead at me.

“In a matter of a few moments my opinion had totally changed and it was clear to me that Bill was not the person I thought he was.

“So this latest admission on his part comes as no surprise to me.”

Compared to this, the NW Herald article is mild.

After the Daily Herald caught 26th state senate district Democratic Party candidate Bill Gentes saying that he was on a leave of absence when he had been fired, the Daily Herald ran a story.

This is the first time I remember the Northwest Herald’s citing a Daily Herald story as the source of an article.

To do that means it is an important development in the 26th district contest with Dan Duffy.

Actually, the NW Herald article is mild compared to Round Lake School Board member and former Illinois Libertarian Party State Chairman W. Guy Finley’s “Stay the Course” blog story.

On its front page is a photo of mine from which Finley has extracted just Gentes’ eyes and nose.

The scathing headline is indicative of the story’s content:

Finley talks about “Lying eyes,” going on to describe a developer impact disagreement that the school board had with the Round Lake Mayor about development impact fees.

Before the meeting, Finley said he had a lot of respect for the mayor.

But not afterward.

Here’s what Finley wrote,

“…he demanded RLAS (Round Lake Area Schools) come to an agreement with a developer to lower our impact fees or he would dictate to us what we would get.

“We had researched our impact fees before adopting them and they were in line with other school districts.

“But because the developer had been quoted fees from several years ago and had already negotiated impact fees with other entities they were unwilling to give RLAS what we wanted.

“Here I thought Bill would step in on our behalf, we’re under state oversight after all and we’re talking about critical funds to help provide infrastructure for the additional kids we would take on, and he was telling me our fees were way out of line.

“He then accused me of threatening him when I said I would take my case to the village trustees and said,

‘Do you know who runs the village, Guy?’

“I hesitated and replied,

‘The board of trustees.’

“Bill leaned forward in his chair towards me at that point and said,

‘No, Guy, the mayor does’

as he pointed a finger into his chest looking dead at me.

“In a matter of a few moments my opinion had totally changed and it was clear to me that Bill was not the person I thought he was.

“So this latest admission on his part comes as no surprise to me.”

Compared to this, the NW Herald article is mild.

I get emails from Liberty Counsel out of Orlando, Florida; Lynchburg, Virginia; and Washington, D.C.

To my surprise, one of today’s was about Round Lake, a northwestern Lake County school district.

Here’s the press release:

School District Ends Discrimination Against Christian Club To Avoid Legal Action

Round Lake, IL – After Liberty Counsel issued a demand letter and threatened legal action, the Round Lake School District gave Child Evangelism Fellowship of Northeast Illinois (CEF) permission to distribute flyers about its after-school Good New Clubs. Liberty Counsel represents CEF and its ministry coordinator, Gail Williams.

Last year a parent complained about a religious group using the school’s literature distribution channels.

As a result of the complaint, the school district issued a new policy this year, forcing religious organizations to leave flyers and other information in the office to be posted on an office bulletin board.

Secular organizations such as Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts were allowed to distribute their flyers through the teachers to the students and thus to the parents.

The policy was in direct violation of the United States Constitution, because it did not provide equal treatment for Christian viewpoints.

Attendance in after-school programs is low if parents do not receive notice of the opportunities.

Gail Williams met with school officials in an effort to resolve the discriminatory treatment imposed by the new policy.

When Ms. Williams was not able to resolve the discriminatory policy, she contacted Liberty Counsel, which then sent a demand letter to school officials.

The day after receiving the demand letter, the district agreed to allow CEF equal treatment under its materials distribution policy to conform to the First Amendment.

Good News Clubs are designed for elementary-age children and are held in public schools after school. Trained CEF leaders provide religious instruction and teach good citizenship and moral values to students from a biblical viewpoint.

Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented:

“The Supreme Court has made it abundantly clear that public schools may not discriminate against Good News Clubs and must provide equal treatment. Equal treatment is not a difficult concept.”

When I asked school board member Denny Driscoll for his take, he sent me this email:

“This whole thing was a tempest in a teapot. The district didn’t have a written procedure or policy on distributing flyers like this, so one of the staff said no to this group’s distribution. We had been trying to cut down on the amount of stuff that was being sent home with the kids.

“The policy now is that organizations can post notices on the student bulletin boards, and any interested students can pick up a flyer from the group in the office.”

I get emails from Liberty Counsel out of Orlando, Florida; Lynchburg, Virginia; and Washington, D.C.

To my surprise, one of today’s was about Round Lake, a northwestern Lake County school district.

Here’s the press release:

School District Ends Discrimination Against Christian Club To Avoid Legal Action

Round Lake, IL – After Liberty Counsel issued a demand letter and threatened legal action, the Round Lake School District gave Child Evangelism Fellowship of Northeast Illinois (CEF) permission to distribute flyers about its after-school Good New Clubs. Liberty Counsel represents CEF and its ministry coordinator, Gail Williams.

Last year a parent complained about a religious group using the school’s literature distribution channels.

As a result of the complaint, the school district issued a new policy this year, forcing religious organizations to leave flyers and other information in the office to be posted on an office bulletin board.

Secular organizations such as Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts were allowed to distribute their flyers through the teachers to the students and thus to the parents.

The policy was in direct violation of the United States Constitution, because it did not provide equal treatment for Christian viewpoints.

Attendance in after-school programs is low if parents do not receive notice of the opportunities.

Gail Williams met with school officials in an effort to resolve the discriminatory treatment imposed by the new policy.

When Ms. Williams was not able to resolve the discriminatory policy, she contacted Liberty Counsel, which then sent a demand letter to school officials.

The day after receiving the demand letter, the district agreed to allow CEF equal treatment under its materials distribution policy to conform to the First Amendment.

Good News Clubs are designed for elementary-age children and are held in public schools after school. Trained CEF leaders provide religious instruction and teach good citizenship and moral values to students from a biblical viewpoint.

Mathew D. Staver, Founder of Liberty Counsel and Dean of Liberty University School of Law, commented:

“The Supreme Court has made it abundantly clear that public schools may not discriminate against Good News Clubs and must provide equal treatment. Equal treatment is not a difficult concept.”

When I asked school board member Denny Driscoll for his take, he sent me this email:

“This whole thing was a tempest in a teapot. The district didn’t have a written procedure or policy on distributing flyers like this, so one of the staff said no to this group’s distribution. We had been trying to cut down on the amount of stuff that was being sent home with the kids.

“The policy now is that organizations can post notices on the student bulletin boards, and any interested students can pick up a flyer from the group in the office.”

Newly elected Round Lake School District 116 board member Denny Driscoll may challenge incumbent State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Barrington Hills) again.

Driscoll, who is a conservative by anyone’s definition, ran against Beaubien in 2006.

His campaign pointed to the incumbent’s liberal legislative votes:

Beaubien was victorious, winning over two-thirds of the vote.

He received strong support from Personal PAC, the most radical pro-abortion political action committee in Illinois. Over $17,000 was reported by the primary election, but the total turned out to be $21,000.

About 80% of Beaubien’s money came from special interest PACs. Only $450 was donated in amounts less that $150.

You can see Driscoll’s campaign mailings here and here.

Since that campaign, Driscoll has been elected to the board of the 5th largest school district in Lake County. It’s a financially troubled one and operates under something of a state receivership.

“I’m definitely considering it,” Driscoll told McHenry County Blog of the possibility of running against Beaubien again.

Issues in such an election would probably focus on immigration, abortion, “tax and spend.”

The state representative district is composed of western Lake County, eastern McHenry County and Barrington Township in Cook County.

For more McHenry County Blog, click here.

Newly elected Round Lake School District 116 board member Denny Driscoll may challenge incumbent State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Barrington Hills) again.

Driscoll, who is a conservative by anyone’s definition, ran against Beaubien in 2006.

His campaign pointed to the incumbent’s liberal legislative votes:

Beaubien was victorious, winning over two-thirds of the vote.

He received strong support from Personal PAC, the most radical pro-abortion political action committee in Illinois. Over $17,000 was reported by the primary election, but the total turned out to be $21,000.

About 80% of Beaubien’s money came from special interest PACs. Only $450 was donated in amounts less that $150.

You can see Driscoll’s campaign mailings here and here.

Since that campaign, Driscoll has been elected to the board of the 5th largest school district in Lake County. It’s a financially troubled one and operates under something of a state receivership.

“I’m definitely considering it,” Driscoll told McHenry County Blog of the possibility of running against Beaubien again.

Issues in such an election would probably focus on immigration, abortion, “tax and spend.”

The state representative district is composed of western Lake County, eastern McHenry County and Barrington Township in Cook County.

For more McHenry County Blog, click here.