UPDATE: Park Ridge schools don’t pay a living wage + The in box. Illinois’ spending cuts hurt the state’s economy. | Fred Klonsky

The in box. Illinois’ spending cuts hurt the state’s economy. | Fred Klonsky:

The in box. No living wage at the high schools either.

by Fred Klonsky

Fred,
Unfortunately the same is pretty much true at the high school level. I worked at a wealthy south suburban high school where paraprofessionals, cafeteria workers, and school secretaries were in a union. The highest IMRF pension earned is $26,995 for 35 years of service. The notable exception was an executive secretary at the administrative center who coincidentally was married to the superintendent and not in the union because she supposedly handled “confidential” information. After 39 years her pension is over $71,000 while her husband, the superintendent, earns over $195,000 after 37 years of service. He’s the highest pension earner in my former district. I won’t even go into what happened to the former custodians and maintenance workers who worked for 

Park Ridge schools don’t pay a living wage.

by Fred Klonsky

An article in NEA Today describes little-known national scandal. And a local one.

Had Marianne Murray taken an entry-level job at a fast food restaurant instead of with West Aurora School District 129 in Illinois, she might be earning a living wage by now.
“At McDonald’s, I might have gone into management,” says Murray, an office assistant to the principal at West Aurora High School. “By now, who knows where I’d be.”
Murray’s 33-year marriage ended last year, leaving her with only one paycheck to cover 

The in box. Illinois’ spending cuts hurt the state’s economy.

by Fred Klonsky

From the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability.

ANALYSIS OF ILLINOIS FISCAL YEAR 2014 BUDGET General Fund Spending Cuts Harm Illinois Many of the fiscal problems that have plagued Illinois over the last decade remain apparent in the FY2014 General Fund budget the Illinois General Assembly passed. As detailed in the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability’s analysis of the state’s recently enacted FY2014 General Fund budget (Available here), these problems include an accumulated deficit ranging from $8.4 – $8.9 billion, a failure to invest adequately in basic core services like educating our children or caring for vulnerable members of society, and an ongoing structural imbalance between General Fund revenue

The in box. Did you take part in the ’63 Chicago Freedom Day school boycott?

by Fred Klonsky

PopoutKartemquin Films is making a film on the 1963 Chicago Freedom Day school boycott.
Did you participate?
If you did, they want to hear your story.

63 Boycott chronicles the Chicago Public School Boycott of 1963 when more than 200,000 Chicagoans, mostly students, marched to protest the segregationist policies of CPS Superintendent Benjamin Willis, who placed mobile school units on playgrounds and parking lot

Tony at the Red Line Tap.

by Fred Klonsky

“Three Floyds Dark Lord Russian Imperial Stout.”
“I’m out,” said Marty.
“Hmmm. Russian River Pliny the Younger.”
“Didn’t get a delivery.”
“Jesus Christ. How about a Närke Konjaks Stormaktsporter?”
“Bingo!” says Marty.
“Room temperature,” I asked?
“Room temperature,” said Marty.
“Where

Ten minute drawing. The Huberman Clause.

by Fred Klonsky

Click on image to enlarge.