Article updated: 4/12/2012 11:07 AM

Schools' pay hikes trigger state penalties

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Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 was charged $645,320 in state penalties for giving some raises as high as 22 percent and triggering higher future pension costs.

Mark Welsh | Staff Photographer

Mohsin Dada

Barrington Area Unit District 220 was charged $243,829 in state penalties for giving some teachers and administrators raises over 6 percent, triggering higher future pension costs.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Hawthorn Elementary District 73 in Vernon was charged $231,466 in state penalties for giving some teachers and administrators raises over 6 percent, triggering higher future pension costs.

Paul Valade | Staff Photographer

Elgin Area School District U-46 was charged $162,232 in state penalties for giving some teachers and administrators raises over 6 percent, triggering higher future pension costs.

Patrick Kunzer | Staff Photographer

Naperville Unit District 203 was charged $146,649 in state penalties for giving some teachers and administrators raises over 6 percent, triggering higher future pension costs.

Mark Black | Staff Photographer

Jeffrey Schoenberg

Darlene Senger

Mohsin Dada

About this Article

At a time when suburban schools are pushing back hard against taking over the states share of teacher retirement costs, many are paying thousands of dollars sometimes hundreds of thousands in penalties to Illinois pension systems for giving big raises to administrators and teachers. Suburban schools charged the highest penalties are Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54, West Aurora District 129, Barrington Area Unit District 220, Hawthorn Elementary District 73, Elgin Area School District U-46 and Naperville District 203, a Daily Herald investigation shows.