Belleville District 201 board approves 5 administrator salaries over $100k

By Eric Kohn

04/13/2017

Though the median household income in Belleville is only $43,318, Belleville Township School District 201’s top administrators are making six-figure salaries.

TAGS: Andrea Gannon, Belleville, Belleville Township School District 201, Brian Mentzer, education, Jeff Dosier, Melissa Taylor, Metro East, property taxes, Rich Mertens, St. Clair County, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

Chicago Teachers Union seeks more negotiating power, strike authority in HB 1253

By Mailee Smith

03/31/2017

While states surrounding Illinois are enacting labor reforms that benefit residents, Illinois remains a bastion of labor power. Now the Chicago Teachers Union wants even more power – including the broadened right to go on strike and strand parents and students.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education, labor, unions

‘Evidence-based’ education funding doesn’t work, would cost Illinois taxpayers billions

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

03/28/2017

An education-funding plan in the General Assembly is already proven to make unattainable goals at a high cost to taxpayers.

TAGS: budget, education

Illinois needs to end the third-party payer problem for teacher pensions

By Michael Lucci

03/24/2017

Illinois’ teacher pension system is structured to allow local school boards to agree to generous contracts, knowing taxpayers across the state will foot the bill. This system should change so that local school boards cover their own pension costs. That way, they will bear the full cost of salary increases they decide on, rather than pushing much of that cost onto unaware state taxpayers.

TAGS: education, pensions, teacher salaries, TRS: Teachers’ Retirement System

Taxpayers deserve say in the teachers’ union contracts they pay for

By Mailee Smith

03/21/2017

Negotiations between government-worker unions and governing bodies are conducted behind closed doors, away from public scrutiny. And yet taxpayers are required to pay for whatever extravagant benefits the unions obtain. Recently a bill in the General Assembly would have brought more transparency – and accountability – to the process, but it failed to make it out of committee.

TAGS: education, labor, transparency, unions

Fact-checking Rahm: Students have been leaving Illinois for at least 15 years

By Madelyn Harwood

03/13/2017

Uncertainty about skyrocketing tuition costs, rising taxes, and other factors are the likeliest culprits of Illinois’ student out-migration crisis.

TAGS: Chicago, education, outmigration, population, Rahm Emanuel

Unpaid sick leave will cost taxpayers $3.4 billion over the next three decades

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

03/09/2017

Top school district superintendents have used the sick-leave perk to boost their pensions by $350,000 or more over the course of their retirements.

TAGS: education, pensions

Rauner memo: Use TIF funds to save Chicago Public Schools

By Chris Lentino

03/06/2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner has suggested funding CPS with tax increment financing, or TIF, funds; this would temporarily bail out the district, but more needs to be done to address serious concerns about Chicago’s TIF program.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Christine Radogno, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education, grand bargain, Illinois Senate, John Cullerton, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

Illinois spends the most per student of any state in the Midwest

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

02/27/2017

On average, Illinois schools spend $13,077 per student.

TAGS: budget, education, property taxes

As enrollment drops 50%, Chicago State University continues work on new $60M campus

By Hilary Gowins

02/06/2017

Lawmakers should address wasteful spending in higher education, which is hurting students, their families, instructors and taxpayers.

TAGS: budget, CSU: Chicago State University, education, higher education

education

Belleville District 201 board approves 5 administrator salaries over $100k

Chicago Teachers Union seeks more negotiating power, strike authority in HB 1253

‘Evidence-based’ education funding doesn’t work, would cost Illinois taxpayers billions

Illinois needs to end the third-party payer problem for teacher pensions

Taxpayers deserve say in the teachers’ union contracts they pay for

Fact-checking Rahm: Students have been leaving Illinois for at least 15 years

Unpaid sick leave will cost taxpayers $3.4 billion over the next three decades

Rauner memo: Use TIF funds to save Chicago Public Schools

Illinois spends the most per student of any state in the Midwest

As enrollment drops 50%, Chicago State University continues work on new $60M campus

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students