I totally agree with the Chicago Sun Times in its editorial on teacher pension spiking. While I understand that moneys had to be allocated for long underfunded areas, such as infrastructure, I was very disappointed to learn of this increased cap addition.
Everyone knows we already have a horrendously underfunded teachers pension. Why was legislation added to make it even worse? I expected and want more from Gov. J.B. Pritzker and I want more from our legislators. Any good businessman knows unnecessary spending has to be removed so that a business can thrive. In this case the business is Illinois, and cutting spending is crucial to the future of Illinois.
Barbara Marion, Orland Park
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Thank you, Springfield
The Chicago Sun-Times on June 13 criticized the state Legislature’s decision earlier this month to repeal the 3% threshold on end-of-career salary increases and restore the 6 percent salary threshold for those in the Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) and the State Universities Retirement System (SURS).
The language creating that very significant threshold was sneaked into last year’s budget implementation bill. This cost shift, which places an additional financial burden on local taxpayers, community colleges, universities and college students, was passed without discussion or debate.
The new language meant that pension costs for raises above 3 percent for employees in TRS or SURS, who are in the final 10 years of their careers, would be paid by the employer and not by the state of Illinois. Keep in mind, teachers do not get Social Security, which is why TRS and SURS are so important to the profession.
This resulted in employers applying this new law to employees throughout their entire career, meaning teachers who earned master’s degrees, who took on coaching duties, directed the school play, wrote curriculum, and did other important work wouldn’t be compensated for it — whether they were in their sixth year of teaching or their 26th year.
In your editorial, you wrote, “The increase, which was nixed by the House earlier this spring when it was stand-alone legislation, doesn’t affect Chicago, which has its own teacher pension fund.”
It’s important to point out that one, the House didn’t nix the legislation when it stood alone because Illinois Representatives never had a chance to vote on it as a stand-alone measure. And, two, you’re right, it doesn’t affect Chicago. Chicago has NO threshold, even though the state pays for teachers’ pensions in the city, as well.
Illinois has a teacher shortage which, unabated, could diminish our state’s education system. To identify the issues causing the shortage, we convened focus groups and asked high school seniors and college students who are considering becoming teachers about their career choice.
Here’s what they said: “We have great respect for the teaching profession, but it just doesn’t pay enough.”
Educators are attracted to teaching because it’s a calling. They love the ability to make a positive impact on students’ lives. But they also want to enter a respected profession. One sign of respect for professionals is the payment of fair compensation.
We talked to our lawmakers about this. They understood. We talked to Gov. J.B. Pritzker about this. He understood. They supported us and we’re thankful for that.
Ultimately, attracting and retaining the best teachers for the students in our schools, putting well-trained professionals at the front of a classroom, solving the teacher shortage — all of this benefits our students.
You can’t feed students’ minds by starving the system.
Thank you, lawmakers. Thank you, Gov. Pritzker.
Kathi Griffin, president, Illinois Education Association
