School personnel should share pain

I am concerned about suburban school districts and their budgets. The school districts are more interested in preserving their pay, raises and benefits; including pensions.

A good example, is SD211 (Schaumburg, Palatine, Hoffman Estates); in 2005 they threatened to cut sports and other programs to force the public to approve a tax levy increase referendum.

Obviously, the students and parents were very concerned and did vote for a spending increase (via a levy increase to property taxes).

There are some (which are the minority) high school districts that have frozen pay increases, modified benefits packages and asked the unions to kick in more toward health care premiums, deductibles, and pensions. The intent was not to increase taxes to the already burdened tax payer; who hopefully is still employed.

I have attended five months of the SD211 school board meetings, and nothing is mentioned about teachers or administrators giving up some of their benefits or pay.

The teachers are well compensated. They are among the highest paid in the state. The average teacher's salary in SD211 is $92K. Approximately 80 percent of the annual budget for pay and benefits. I personally know a retired SD211 teacher who is comfortably retired with a pension - $116K/year, not bad.

Basically, revenue (property taxes) is down. I'm doubtful that the high school districts are doing enough or even feeling the same "pain" as the private sector. They will 'tax' to limit of the law, because they can.

I haven't seen a raise in two years, and my benefits contributions have been increasing. My company needs to cut expenses/costs to help meet their earning per share target. They have no problems taking away from the employees. Why can't the unions and school districts do the same?

John Parker

Schaumburg