Heading to Naperville

If it's May, okay there is one day to go, then it's time to head to Naperville to kick off our 'Go Green' initiative.  Naperville has been a big backer of this effort for a number of years.

This morning I am heading to Naperville Central to speak with some students about the work of Schools Count Corp. and our 'Go Green' effort.  Time to get the students interested and excited about helping the children within CPS and around Chicago.

We'll not only chat with the students, answer questions, but we will also supply them with boxes, signs, and zip lock bags.  Anything we can do on our end to help facilitate their collection efforts is well worth the time on my end.

Before I forget, I want to give a big 'Shout Out' to Naperville Central, Elmwood Elementary, Ellsworth Elementary, Prairie Elementary, Ranchview Elementary, Steeple Run Elementary, Kingsley Elementary and Highlands Elementary.  These are the schools in Naperville participating in this years 'Go Green' effort.

This is a terrific program and I am indebted to the schools, sponsors, teachers and students.

Thank You,
Dick

Help!!

As the month of May rapidly approaches, it is that time of the year to plan our pick up of school supplies in our 'Go Green' program.  Plenty of suburban schools are part of this effort to take perfectly good leftover student supplies, not used during the 2011-12 year, and to provide them to our charity.  In turn, we will add these to brand new supplies and we'll deliver them to some 40 Chicago schools in August.

If you have some time on your hands and are looking to do some valuable volunteer work, I can sure use the assistance this month and in early June.

I will be picking up supplies from Naperville and Elmhurst on Friday, May 25th and Tuesday, May 29th and could use some helping hands.  These supplies will be boxed up at the various schools and we'll simply load them in a truck.

I will drive a truck from Mokena to the above suburbs so, if you are able to assist me, it's probably best for you to simply meet me at our first stop.   After that first stop, you can simply follow me to each succeeding location.  Our work on the 25th will take a 1/2 day while we will be busy most of the 29th.

I know there are other days in early June where I can use the help but right now I don't have firm dates.  As soon as I get these, I will share them with you.

Simply email me at rich219@comcast.net or call 630-863-6035 to let me know that you can help on either of these days.  Obviously, if you have any questions or need more information just let me know.

Thanks for your consideration!
Dick

Another Blow to Pensions

As if teaching until age 67 wasn't enough and paying an additional 3% more of your salary to your pension didn't hit your wallet hard enough, Governor Quinn has thrown one more log onto the fire.

Right now retired teachers in the TRS system get a 3% cost of living adjustment (COLA) to their yearly pension.  The new COLA plan laid out by Quinn calls for capping the cost of living at a maximum of 3% or 1/2 of the CPI, whichever is less.  So if the CPI is 2% then teachers would receive a 1% raise.  By the way, this new amount, according to the new plan, is not compounded.

Out of all of the features of the governor's new plan, this is the one I am least troubled by.  Really, if I don't get a COLA raise of 3% and, instead, receive 1 1/2% or 2% I won't cry over it.

But when you add up all of the features of the Quinn plan then you get a sense that teachers and other public employees are really taking it on the chin. 

Teaching well over 40 years to get a full pension, paying 3% more towards the pension every single year and taking a lower amount of cost of living money each year once you are retired will hit teachers hard.  These measures, collectively, are simply too punative.

Why not be more realistic?  Rather than making mandatory retirement at age 67, why not be reasonable and say that age 60 is a better time to retire.  You need more money for the TRS pension fund, why not ask for 1 1/2% increase rather than 3%.

Teachers and public employees are left filling the deep hole dug by legislators.  We don't mind doing our share to plug the hole but to be fully responsible for problems largely created by the state government just doesn't make sense.

Thanks,
Dick

More on Quinn Pension Plan

As if requiring public employees and teachers to work until 67 isn't tough enough medicine to swallow, there's even troubling news with the Quinn Pension Plan.

Right now teachers are required to pay slightly over 9% of their pay into the TRS system.  Under Quinn's plan that amount will be increased by 3%.  In other words, teachers will be paying slightly under 13% into the fund for as long as they continue to teach.

Lots to think about with this increase.  First of all, many teachers in many school districts pay this out of their check rather than the district picking up the cost.  So, let's say a teacher receives, on average, a pay raise of 2%.  By a teacher picking up the 3% TRS tab, that teacher will actually by losing ground.

Here's another way to look at the increase in the TRS contribution.  If districts do in fact pay the 3% increase then the district, aside from other expenses, will have to find the funding to take care of this contribution to the system.  This will definitely impact the budget concerns of a school district and very well may means cuts or an increase in property taxes.

By the way, this 3% increase in teacher contributions to TRS is not a one-time deal.  This will go on for many, many years.   It will take a number of decades to wipe out the $83 billion shortfall in all of the state's public employee pension programs.

I realize the state has a huge pension liability problem but putting the onus on today's teachers for problems largely created by the state's past failure to live up to past obligations does not sit well. 

Thanks,
Dick

Analysis of Quinn Pension Proposal

Governor Quinn certainly made a splash with his proposal to reduce the liability of the various state pension funds.  It is worth taking a critical look at the various parts of the plan to better understand the impact on everyone involved.

Let's look at his idea relative to making the mandatory age to retire at 67.  As a retired teacher I can tell you that having started teaching at 23 years of age, notwithstanding my love of working with students, I would absolutely never be able to work 44 years in the profession!  Never!

Teaching isn't a matter of telling students to do something and then simply sitting to watch them perform the assignment presented to them.  That's not the way it works.

Even teaching until age 60 would be problematic for most teachers and professors.  Stretching it to 67 is simply irresponsible.

Besides, setting the retirement age at 67 will affect other components of the pension system.  By working to 67, it stands to reason that by working longer the state will pay out less in pension dollars overall since teachers are retiring at a later time than those of us who retired at 55.  Now we are getting to the crux of the matter...DOLLARS.

Also, there will be a big impact felt at the local level.  Let's say a teacher gets to the top of the payscale after 17 years of teaching.  By forcing, yes forcing, teachers to teach longer then the local district will have to pay these higher salaries for a longer period of time.  This is bound to impact the tax situation in the various Illinois communities.

Raising the retirement age to 67 is fraught with plenty of negatives.  Let's hope that the powers that be will reconcile these issues prior to implementing them.

Dick

Teacher Pension Reform

Governor Quinn announced his long awaited plan to reform the state's pension system for public employees and teachers.  The plan attempts to close the $83 billion in pension liability that has been accrued over these past years.

Here are the major points of his plan.  First, employees to receive their full pension, would have to work until age 67.  Also, during the lifetime of their employment, teachers and public employees would have to pay 3%, per year, more into the retirement fund than they are currently contributing.  Finally, the proposed legislation would restrict the cost of living adjustments to a much lower rate than is currently the case.

It ought to be noted that the Quinn plan would only affect those currently teaching or who will one day enter the profession.  Current teachers and public employees would not be affected by the above rule changes.

A good number of legislators back the plan as do a number of groups (Civic Committee, Commercial Club) looking to curtail the states pension liability.  The plan is bound to run into roadblocks with the various unions and other like minded organizations.

Over the next few days I will look at the implications of this plan and offer some thoughts, comments and adjustments that ought to be made before it goes into effect.  Suffice it to say, these are major alterations and some of them are rather draconian.

Dick

Grateful NOLA School

Though the note below is brief, I believe it summarizes the feelings of many of the schools we have assisted in New Orleans for the past six years. The reason Mr. Goodwin sent me the note is because I notified the NOLA schools that we will no longer able to bring student school supplies to the Crescent City. Instead, Schools Count Corp. will aid schools in the Chicagoland area in addition to those in tornado ravaged parts of Indiana and Illinois.

I thought it appropriate to share with our donors, volunteers and others who are interested in our work. These are indeed some grateful individuals. Imagine, if we ever need help, they will be there for us!!!

Quite amazing. Good Morning, I definitely understand and on behalf of students, parents and faculty we would like to THANK YOU for everything you have done and how much you have helped over the years. If you ever need anything of us just call or email.

Thanks,
Sean J. Goodwin Assistant Principal
Joseph A. Craig Elementary