Is now the time to re-ask whether these three communities couldn't share one administration?
Jim J

Jim J - Excellent point.

You can't fault people for wanting and negotiating their deals. You can find fault with a Board that agrees to these deals. It is water of the bridge, and Jim J has an excellent point.

Corporations have shed jobs and become more efficient at delivering goods and services. Public sector employers need to develop efficiency standards, and the paid benefits to Superintendents should be based, in part on their ability to make a district more efficiently managed and more productive with existing resources.

Redistricting may make sense, as well as combining administrative offices for Geneva, St. Charles, and Batavia. The $660k being spent on salary in the corporate world would be spent much more efficiently and you would expect that sized territory to be managed by a manager for about $250k-$300k, saving up to half the amount of expense. A large portion would be performance based, as opposed to guarantee salary also.

Great point, Jim - the cost savings of combining the administration of the 3 districts would be enormous. The base salaries of the superintendents are just the tip of the iceberg. Each district has layers of support staff that could be reduced. We can still be Vikings and Bulldogs and Saints and North Stars, but eliminating administrative staff redundancy just might keep the districts solvent.

Definitely a conversation worth having.

Think we have some numbers off is shows jack makes $233,620.00 but the data base shows he makes $286,900 last year and Don you show $229.326 data base shows $245,000 and Kent $219,03 data shows $218,709 also this is last years data the new data will be out in mid March." Familytaxpayers.org" teachers data base

$ 7,300 bonus for Jack, thats Bull****.

It always amazes me that "reporters" ignore the health insurance benefit, and untaxed (unlike for private business owners) benefit. In the case of Kent Mutchler it is close to $30,000.00 a year in Health Insurance benefit.

Most administrators receive 18-30k in such underreported taxpayer funded gifts.

SO to be accurate, this reporter needs to tack on approximately 30k to Kent Mutchler's pay. Thanks to the free spenders at Geneva 304 who believe that every dollar spent translates magically into improved services. But then when you have homemaker-nurses, unemployed folks, and teachers managing millions in salaries, what do you expect.

it's the time to relize,that teachers you become a burden on the society.We are paying for your benefits a lavish life style.There people in the private sector with no benefits like me,no pension,no vacation and your salary should be cut to a real world at least 60% !!

norm,
lavish life style, your kidden me right?

with the average of $75 000 plus ..that's is lavish life style for 9 month of work....look at the average salary..in Engineering...what is the difference about the teachers...from ordinary citizens.? Good pension plan,retirement age 11 years less than ordinary workers in the private sector,plus medical and you don't have enough.It's a crime!

I know my wife works well into the night and most all weekends during the school year. So recalculate your worked hours per month.
Plus she works on class planning most of August.
Does required continuing education during the summer.
Good pension plan ? thats if its still there in a few years.
no Social Security plan for teachers, medical is adequate .
Dealing with these kids on a daily basis is no walk in the park.
Crime ?
It's a crime she has to deal with kids who don't respect adults, do half hearted efforts, and still expect a passing grade.
It's sad you feel this way.

let me wipe out my tears....Every teacher should be on Social security just like and every citizen in this country.The max for Soc security is $2500 a months, the teachers pension is 80% of their salary plus medical for the whole family.What do you think the people in the private sector have a ball? I use to get up at 3:30 a.m and get home at 5 p.m. to put 8 hrs a day,which actually is 12 hours plus more like 14 hours a day with no benefits.The teachers have a socialistic system,just like the Government employees,including Police force,Firemen etc.I bet you that your family is on your wife's medical like the whole family,which I pay for through out my my tax contributions.It cost me $800 every two months with $6500 deductible for our medical !No vacations,or holiday paid for.Now you tell me that your wife is hard working person and the other in the private sector are rewarded equally?! Every citizen in this country should pay for their own benefits.If two people are working they should pay for their own insurance and the benefits.No thick days to be paid for ,just like people in the private sector.This is the legal robbery.They steal from Paul to pay Peter and teachers don't feel guilt at all.Is this a Socialistic system or what?

I feel just like other people in the private sector and it will not last for ever with this kind of benefits for some.The country is getting broke and people with foreclosures are 95% from the private sector!!!!!Get you marbles together!

And home school your kids.

80% of the property taxes going towards School district.I will welcome,to pay only 20% of the property taxes and worry about education after.I also pay for your medical benefits out of my property taxes.Don't forget it! Do I want to?

80% out my property taxes goes towards School district...and I pay for your medical benefits..I would be glad to pay only 20% of the property taxes...and you be on your own..!!!!

You really need to find a anger management help.

Three words for all of the overpaid, three month's of vacation, public sector education employees...

"Air Traffic Controllers."

Someday, someday soon.

The article was about Superintendent salary , not teachers.
So should the commentary , but reading comprehension is a acquired skill.

I think most teachers here know they've got it pretty darn good - they probably don't appreciate a teacher's husband like "thefunkychicken" stirring the pot

You can use your voice to change the laws, but resenting people who made a career choice in education is silly. People choose education for lots of reasons, and a stable career field with a livable wage is one of them.

If folks think that teaching or school admin are the only careers that demand more than they did in the past, then some people need to wake up. Everyone I know works much more than their predecessors likely did, trying to hold onto a paying job so they are not laid off. The difference is that in teaching/admin, you can retire when you are in your mid-50's. Most people in industry cannot. And if you are a teacher/admin, you can always blame parents for something that goes with the job. (some kids want to learn and others do not) People choose other careers for the same thing - a stable career with livable wage. It's just not guaranteed as it is with most teaching gigs.

Check on that retirement age... Since 2011IL state law requires teachers to work till age 67 before receiving full pension. Things have changed lately, probably to mirror the private sector.

Off topic a bit, but I'm hoping to see more about the upcoming school board election... in particular, I'd like to know which candidates are recommended by the TaxFacts organization?

RE: retirement age: Then, it seems, many of the local school staff must be readily able to retire before 67 because very few of them stick around that long....

Become a teacher.... try it.

Teaching and/or administration is no easier nor harder than other careers. It depends on the individual, their skills, training, and interests. Every career has its share of difficulties and frustrations. But, teachers and administrators in the tri-cities seem to be able to retire much earlier than those in other industries. So, there is a silver lining.

"All careers have perks and challenges". Early retirement - incentives to retire - sounds like a good deal! I do not think teachers or administrators are underpaid. They make good money around here, and it seems most have been able to retire young. Their jobs have challenges and frustrations just like everyone else's. After they do retire, they can be a sub, tutor, etc, using their experience to supplement their income if desired. And, sad to say, for every exceptional teacher, there is also a substandard one. The fact remains that administrators and teaching salaries come from the tax payers, so tax payers will be vocal about their salaries. If someone doesn't want their salary to be public record, then this line of work is not for them. "Blaming teachers" - for what? I'm not blaming teachers for anything. I'm just speaking the truth about their jobs and salaries. There are many perks in their line of work.