Wow...you think that's good? Aaron...you really need to raise the bar.

It's nice to see that one of Carbone's followers is still managing to post such ridiculous statements. Aaron, I agree with Terri: set the bar higher. These teachers mold a future and deserve more for the incredible job they do. If you don't appreciate them and the job they do I suggest you home school your children.

So lets say a teacher makes $35K a year. What does that translate to?
$35000 Starting salary. Divided by 52 weeks = $673.07/Week, 9.4 % for TRS = $63.26, State Income Tax 5% = $ 33.65. Medicare tax 1.45% $9.75, Filing @ Single w/no deductions = $86.00. This is equal to $480.40 week, this is provided they do not take the insurace option that they will have to pay for, so lets just be conseritive and say $30 a check, so now they are down to $450.40 a week, sorry I do not see how you can say they are overpaid and should be happy to have this job.

It's an average for entry level elementary teachers, I believe.

I believe so too, Crawler.

I think many on these posts use another person's misfortune or lack of income, and their inability to pay more in taxes, as a means for their argument that those same people do not respect teachers or what teachers do for our kids and our community. They say that poor schools will lower our property value. Our property taxes increased $400 in one year while our home value dropped by tens of thousands of dollars. This was before the strike. Who, or what do you suggest we blame for that? I just did the math using actual 2012 figures from the ISBE website for full time D46 teachers with no administrators included. The average salary is $58,800. Teachers work 36 weeks per year. I'll make it 39, adding 3 weeks for extra time put in. Do the math and you have $1500/week. The average starting salary might be $35,000, but there are only 5 full time teachers in the district making that or less.

And they only work five days a week too, and then only for seven hours a day. Not a minute more. And once the last day of school is over, they are absolutely free for the whole summer until the first day of school. How could they have anything to do if they're not with their students. We all know that's why they teach- so they can make millions of dollars and then spend the whole summer on their yachts or in their homes in Europe. And all with OUR taxes. Oh, let's not forget that when school is in session, these people just show videos all day and read the paper while polishing their nails, what a greedy thoughtless bunch of cretins (AND lazy).

JH, you can take the salary and divide by 52 to calculate possible paycheck but they do not work 52 weeks of the year. Granted they do do the extra you state, which is why Tara came up with 39 weeks. Kids are in school 190 days which is actually more like 28 weeks. We know teachers put in more time which is where Tara came up with the 39 weeks.

Kids are in school 176 days, not 190.

Now that is a workable solution Tara Strain! Thank you for offering a suggestion toward solution. There are those than can afford more and those that can't.
The board did the right thing by not REQUIRING everyone to pay more in this tough economy. That doesn't mean if you could pay more that you aren't allowed to. Posters came here to plead for pay increases so good staff will stay. Here is an offer of opportunity for those people who can afford it. Give to the "teacher fund".
Terri, many of us did not buy more than we can afford. Many of us have lost jobs. Many have had decreases in pay. Most have had no increases or bonuses. Some, like me, lost their spouse and while that doesn't affect my mortgage, it does affect my household income.
All of us in the meantime have had incredible increases in expenses, from taxes, to groceries, to gas. There is nothing wrong with the character of the good folks of Grayslake who have said, "enough". That does not make us "fair weather fans". It makes us everyday average Americans who are tired of out of control taxing.
Will the good folks of Grayslake, like you Terri, give $400 to the teacher fund?

A bit selfish, aren't we? You want me to pick up your tab?

@ Terri, I do not know if you have children in Grayslake schools. I no longer do. When increasing my taxes every year, aren't government bodies in essence forcing me to pick up the tab for others?
Tell us Terri, for those families who can't afford registration or lunches, do you resent picking up their tab too?

So Pete, since you have yours why should you help others get theirs? Well I guess that depends on how much you care about the future. Do you want our next generation of kids educated enough so that they and the U.S. can compete in a global economy, or would you rather have adults who have just enough skills to work at McDonald's? That's about where we're heading right now. We have the upper class kids in the best private schools going to the best universities so that they can remain in the upper class with CEO jobs or working as government lobbyists and keep their wealth, while everyone else stands in unemployment lines or works in fast food (or end up dead or in jail). Class warfare? No. Class facts.

It's not just $400 this year, it is $400 last year and the year before, Ad infinitum. In just 5 years that is now $2000 and 10 years $4000.

If you want to compare apples to apples in salaries, instead of annualizing them, calculate the hourly rates and compare them. I did that a few years ago and the average for D46 was about $35/hr for total compensation. I'd have to run the numbers again when I have time.

From 2007 - Wall St. Journal: "Who, on average, is better paid–public school teachers or architects? How about teachers or economists? You might be surprised to learn that public school teachers are better paid than these and many other professionals. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, public school teachers earned $34.06 per hour in 2005, 36% more than the hourly wage of the average white-collar worker and 11% more than the average professional specialty or technical worker."

LOL!!! That tax increase is about a third of CPI. LOL!!! And teachers pay it, too! LOL!!!
LOL!!! Check your salary facts!!! LOL!!!
http://salaries-by-city.findthedata.org/l/47127/Architects-Except-Landscape-and-Naval
LOL!!! You saying you're worth more than a teacher? LOL!!!
http://www.indeed.com/salary/q-IT-Application-Architect-l-Lake-County,-IL.html

Lennie, you looking into that matter with the charter school yet? I'm eager to hear the results of your investigation.

It appears it is being handled by the Sun times. Did Lisa Madigan make a comment yet? When are you going to come to a board meeting and speak up about the problems in D46 and help clan them up?

Great deflection, Lennie. You'd never let anything like that stop your continued crusade against D46. I'm really disappointed in you that you think this charter school incident isn't important enough for your vast skills of FOIAing. I just really thought you'd want to take this on.

LOL, so I am supposed to do a job that someone else has already done and reported on? If you want me researching every school district or public corruption maybe you can donate to a campaign fund to get me elected as Illinois Attorney General.

That's okay Lennie, I'll pass on that. We don't need anymore hypocrites in office.

LOL!!! You failed miserably in a primary run for state rep! LOL!!!
LOL!!! Now you want to waste more money for a shot at AG? LOL!!!

I don't want to be AG, but Sully appears to believe I should research and hold every school district, charter school and state official accountable. To do that I would to have be AG. Maybe sully I'd tired of the fact that I have uncovered more political corruption than Lisa Madigan has.

BTW, how many times did Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan lose before finally being elected?

LOL!!! Now he thinks he's Abe or Ronny LOL!!!

Exactly! Here we go again with your constant comments that "assumes" that every working person who bought in Grayslake bought over their head....its a very arrogant statement that you continue to make. And it isn't some one time $400, that is in addition to the $600 the year before, the $1,000 the year before that, etc, etc....

And as most have said, we all value the teachers and what they do. It is a hard pill to swallow in this economy, when most people are not getting increase or have take cuts constantly, our district is broke and the teachers expected over a million in extra compensation.

Yes...I'm saying that fiscal responsibility includes a plan for those things, too. The statement is anything but arrogant and ignorant. And I never said I didn't feel for those in trouble. Just don't agree with you that I should pick up the tab.

I've explained the increases over and over. Clearly some failed to investigate BEFORE they committed to this community. Bad planning.

Maybe we want to be fiscally responsible and sell our house...oh wait we can't do that! No one wants to buy here because the taxes are insane! But I am so glad that you were so responsible that you planned so far ahead and can predict the economy as well as your job security. So put your money where you mouth is and see you offer your $400, otherwise stop being so condescending to those that may be enduring hardship.

You're the only one condescending. You can sell your house...for what it's worth. Sales in Lake County are up (and prices) significantly. Again...why should I pay your bills?

Terri, you're the one who obsessively complains about the teachers being underpaid. Therefore, feel free to donate to their cause. We all pay our taxes. We just don't care to pay our last dimes to give public employees more than the average taxpayer.. We all agree they should receive a reasonable salary, but pension spiking and getting double CPI raises just because they are staying in their job is a bit much, when the rest of us are taking pay freezes or cuts. But then, you don't really care about others, do you, shrill shill?

Taxes have ALWAYS been higher than other towns in the area. I agree with Terri, you should have educated yourself and been aware of what you signed up for when you moved here. If you don't like it, MOVE! The high taxes here aren't something new.

It's interesting to continue to see the elitist mentality of "just move" .

Part 1: HOUSING MARKET FORECAST

12 Month Forecast: DOWN
Forecast Accuracy: 86%

Forecast-Chart.com publishes forecasts for the trend in home prices in 380
Metropolitan Statistical Areas. The House Price Trend will be either UP or
DOWN. The forecast for the trend in the Lake County housing market for the 12
months ending with the 3rd Quarter of 2013 is DOWN. The Accuracy of the
Trend Forecast for Lake County is 86%. In other words, when tested against
historical data, the forecasting methodology was correct 86% of the time.
Accordingly, Forecast-Chart.com estimates that the probability for falling house
prices in Lake County is 86% during this period. If this Housing Market Forecast
is correct, home prices will be lower in the 3rd Quarter of 2013 than they were
in the 3rd Quarter of 2012. Check this page each quarter for updates to the
Lake County Real Estate Market Forecast.

3 Year Forecast: DOWN
Forecast Accuracy: 87%

The forecast for the trend in the Lake County housing market for the 3 years
ending with the 3rd Quarter of 2015 is DOWN. The Accuracy of the Trend
Forecast for Lake County is 87%. In other words, when tested against historical
data, the forecasting methodology was correct 87% of the time. Accordingly,
Forecast-Chart.com estimates that the probability for falling house prices in
Lake County is 87% during this period. If this Housing Market Forecast is
correct, home values will be lower in the 3rd Quarter of 2015 than they were in
the 3rd Quarter of 2012. Check this page each quarter for updates to the Lake
County Real Estate Market Forecast.

LOL!!! Now he's a real estate expert...is there nothing this man doesn't google...I mean know? LOL!!!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/25/obese-people-have-severe-_n_268910.html

Oh Lennie, there ya go again. Copying and pasting and pretending you know something. People want YOU to move because they're sick of your act. You've complained for years upon years about the Grayslake area, yet you stay and become more obnoxious with each passing day. You've made whatever point you have, so now go bless some other area with your grand presence. Nothing elitist about this. These people just don't need or want you here.

From my understanding, Sully, you have said you don't live in Graylake/D46, how can you ask us to leave a place that you don't even live at. How about telling us where you actually live and we will live next door to you! BTW, telling someone to move from the area is against the rules on the Patch, not to mention down right mean. Would you like to be told to move, Sully? Would you like me to quote the rules for you, Sully? How about you put in your Realtor expertise and tell us how the housing market has gone up, and how people are getting more money for their houses compared to what they paid for their houses. Go ahead, Sully. We are all waiting.

Genius Lisa. Just genius.

I keep forgetting just how literal you and Lennie are.

Home values are increasing in Lake County however the incremental increase in value is still below the levels from which a homeowners took not their first lien loan but their their 2nd lien and those two loans total is where the loans are more than the market value.

For most it is simply a paper loss but for those that also lost a job the situation prevents them from selling out and move to an area they can afford. For the family with no kids who moved to Grayslake for many reasons and school being one of them, may want to move out; however they too not be able to move out for same reason.

Your right, I don't believe that. And I 100% agree that ALL areas of this nation have to be reviewed, overhauled, etc....and I am not blaming teachers one bit.

I just believe that in this economy, and teachers being tax payers too, were asking for far more than any average citizen was getting. We ALL have to be in this together and no one side is right. In our little town and community, we have given as much as we can but to some that is not enough. To some people (Terri) feels that if some people in this community are hurting they are selfish and to blame. This is for all of us, not just the teachers.

Teachers are consumers as well as tax payers. Instead of demanding that public employees make less, why not demand that other occupations filled by the middle class make more? Why should CEOs continue to get such high compensation packages when their companies are going under? Why are CEOs rewarded when they fire more people? You guys are fighting the wrong fight. Nothing will be achieved in a day, but when are the middle class and lower middle class ( and getting lower every day) going to figure out that teachers are not the enemy? They are the same as you. They earn money, they spend money on the economy, and they pay their taxes. Anyone else in any other job would prefer higher pay and better conditions, so why do teachers get so much hostility thrown at them for wanting what anyone else would want. Those who condescend by saying teachers are nothing but glorified babysitters are expressing their anger on the wrong source. If one loses a job, it is not a teacher's fault.

So essentially Sully you are saying that teachers deserve everything they want because they are more important than any other working person. So they always deserve a raise plus all the other increases, every year while anyone else who is not a teacher deserves nothing because they happen to work for overly paid CEOs.

And you are also saying that by paying them over any norm that is happening in this economy today will automatically improve my child's education? I just don't agree. I just think that because they are just like us, taxpayers, earn and spend money in this economy that they should not be shielded by its effects. There are other just as important public servants that deserve raises as well and are not getting them. Yes, they deserve raises, yes they deserve benefits but the demands have got to have a limit. There are some people spouting that they should get everything they want, and I just don't agree.

Tara, were you educated in Grayslake's public schools?

Then we agree....I just get frustrated when others just assume and categorize people, who were not in favor of the strike or the million dollars it would have cost to meet their demands, as community members that don't care about our teachers.

And yes, there are some big public company's, banks, etc that are aiding to the tanking of this economy for their own greed. And it is very sad....I guess this is why we hope and pray that we can elect the right public officials in this country who can make changes. And that too doesn't work. But this argument is about Grayslake, our little community in this big mess....a place where we as residents can try to make our own difference. Most of the residents want to stay here for many reasons other than the school system. We are all willing to pay our share as long as it can be sustained and is fair to all.