Illinois Senate votes to raise teacher salaries

[TexasTowelie]

SPRINGFIELD (AP) — The Illinois Senate has approved raising public school teacher salaries to a minimum of $40,000 a year.

The Senate voted 37-16 Thursday to increase minimum full-time teacher salaries over the next five years. Democratic Sen. Andy Manar of Bunker Hill is the sponsor. He says the measure is a way to attract more teachers in a state that’s facing a growing shortage.

But Sen. Kyle McCarter says the state can’t afford to pay increased pension costs associated with a pay raise. The Republican from Lebanon in southern Illinois adds that the state is billions of dollars in debt and shouldn’t be making promises it can’t keep. The legislation comes as teachers in states across the country are striking for higher wages among other issues.

The bill is SB2892.

http://rockrivertimes.com/2018/05/18/illinois-senate-votes-to-raise-teacher-salaries/
(brief article)

[beachbum bob]

1. the teacher retirement system is a travesity in Illinois

school districts negotiate the contracts and then all the tax payers in Illinois get stuck with their pensions and benefits....and a fricken 3% a year COLA...WHAT PRIVATE PENSION guarantees a 3% annual COLA regardless of actual inflation???


this is what needs to change...3% COLA for retirees is outrageous and has created 10's of thousands of teacher retires making much more a year in pensions than they ever earned teaching...its even worse with college professors who receive 6 figure pensions.....


My wife who has a masters and worked 25 years for the State of Illinois makes 1/3 the pension of a high school math teacher.....


school district taxpayers MUST be responsible for the pension cost of THEIR employees.. Chicago is the only school district that their residents pay into the retirement system of their teachers AND also pay for down state teachers as well thru state income taxes.