Facts about teacher pay in District 57
As a teacher for 42 years in Mount Prospect District 57, I support Rich Benson’s letter detailing how D57 students will be hurt by recent administrative decisions. The only focus seems to be having a massive reserve for the future. In the 1980s, D57 faced a similar situation — a failed referendum, teacher layoffs and program cutbacks. What resulted was classrooms had 35 students, no music programs, no art program and no sports program. It was an appalling setback.
Once programs are cut it takes years to reinstate them, sometimes never. The costs eventually outweigh the reasons behind cutting them in the first place. Not only are students impacted, but as Mr. Benson stated, “What will happen to Mount Prospect property values?”
Parents and teachers have asked the administration and school board how much exists in our reserves (over $12 million). Why aren’t all future sources of district income reported — the approximately $800,000 TIF the district is receiving, the $600,000 savings from teacher retirements this year, and increased tax revenues? Administration has led the public to believe teacher salaries, benefits and pensions are to blame. But D57 teachers have always paid their own health insurance and benefits. The discrepancy that exists between D57 teacher salaries and those in neighboring districts has long subsidized D57 — only administrators have their pensions, annuity contributions and health benefits totally paid for by the district. A salary freeze for teachers really means a pay cut, as insurance and pension rates continue to increase.
Our students outperform neighboring districts on achievement tests. Lincoln has been named one of the top 50 middle schools in Illinois. Our teachers and students deserve better than being the financial targets of a desire to build a stronger reserve fund. Let’s hope the school board asks the administration to sacrifice the same as the teachers in the name of what we all know to be valuable: our kids. Spend down the reserves and maintain the high quality education this district prides itself on. After all, isn’t that what reserves are for — when the going gets tough?
Gayle Filantres
Mount Prospect