I think it's terrible that it has come to a strike. Are both side really negotiating in good faith? If so, there would be more meetings at the table? Have personal ego's gotten in the way? Does everyone but the teachers union realize the economic state? One teacher told me the had to vote to strike before they even saw the terms being discussed and asked for? How many teachers are just going along because of the negative backlash?

The teachers are using our children as leverage. Last night the board and the federal mediator were at the East Campus. The union was invited but refused saying they are not available to negotiate until late Tuesday night. Their leverage (aka our students and their education and extra curricular activities) is better 2 hours before a declared strike than it is 30 hours before. As parents and taxpayers who foot the bill for the teachers generous salaries and benefits we are getting played. If you don't like this approach speak up!

Fire them all! I'm sure there are 5000 teachers just as qualified that would love their cozy jobs! It's not them it's our children who are getting the grades.

By allowing their union leaders to refuse to meet last night and continue the negotiations, the teachers who voted for this strike have permanently lost my respect. I had once held some sympathy for those who were likely being bullied by their leaders into supporting this. Not any more. Shame on all but the very few who had the courage to stand up to this.

It was a calculated move on the part of the union to wait until fall sports season as they know how popular it is and the fear it would cause in sports parents. As a parent with kids in sports- let them strike. My kids feel the same. They have spent the last weeks in a school where 90% of their teachers mope around and in the last week lecture them on how they don't understand what they are going through. Yes they do. THe kids are smart enough to recognize what these people who hold themselves out to be mentors, friends and tell them they are there for them; are doing to all the children of this school. They had a whole year, plus some, to get this done. Instead they wait to interrupt football, field hockey, soccer and other sports that are important to their charges. THese kids practice all summer. THey give up so much to be in these sports only to be used as pawns. I have lost all respect for the teachers and doubt I will ever regain it. A guaranteed job, benefits, a steady (large) paycheck- how many of this nation would give their right arm for this. And yes, many of those do have advanced degrees. Degrees which most teachers get to raise their pay status. Personally I would fire them all and start fresh.

The teachers union has just filed four grievances with the State of Illinois regarding violations of labor law by the Board. While this could be considered "posturing," (and I'm sure it will be by some), it will be interesting to see how the State rules on that. Should they concur that the Board has violated labor laws, I wonder if people here will acknowledge that they (the Board) have not been negotiating in good faith and are the principle reason we are at this point.

That's my belief...while I am not a teacher, I know some of them and the last thing they want to do is strike...and despite the claims of some rather mean-spirited posters, they are not greed-soaked hogs who would retaliate against their students for parents who have different opinions. They love those kids...that's why they teach, not for the glorious salary, benefits, and the joy of tussling with this truly difficult and hostile Board.

The board bears responsibility for its lack of organization and foresight and the teachers seek too much. Compromise- Teachers: take less than you want; Board: give more than you'd like. Compromise is fair and reasonable and lets make it happen earlier rather than later. By the way- In case it wasn't apparent from the snafu last year, the Board needs a whole new slate.

In the opinion of most taxpayers, compromise would be to allow these hogs back in the building. Fire them all and start fresh by making them reapply for the jobs trey are vacating.

Teachers play a vital role as we entrust them with our children for the better part of the day to learn. However,they also need to get their heads out of the hole in the ground and accept that job security and pay will be tied directly to their performance like the rest of us. That day will come. We strive to teach our kids to compete, yet teachers don't understand this concept when it comes to their jobs.

Part of me says, give them the money so we can tell the teachers "you got your increase, now shut up and do your job". Give them the increase, as long as they agree to move towards a true merit review. Let the parents be involved in teacher reviews. Why not, we are paying the taxes, we are the employer. You want increase, then put in the contract a true merit system, put in there a rule that Power School is to be updated daily, tests are returned to students, monthly class schedules - not daily, and force them to be there 30 minutes before and after school. It blows my mind that teachers don't return tests to students. How do these kids study for mid-terms and finals. Why don't they return tests, because that would force certain teachers to create new exams each semester - OMG!!! The most successful students are those who plan their week out on Sunday or Monday, some plan a monthy out, which is great if you can do it. Make the teachers give out at least a month at a glance. These kids are playing sports, working in the community, they have jobs, give them a chance to schedule their time. We, the taxpayer, need to get more return on our investment. You want more money, then we want more in return.

It is interesting that this article focuses on the loss of sports activities and even suggests that the union is using that as part of its leverage to drive an 11th hour deal. Perhaps we as parents are partially to blame for the focus we tend to place on sports. I like LFHS sporting events as much as any other parent, but this issue should be about the education of our children and not what sporting events may or may not be cancelled. These situations are typically resolved through thoughtful compromise, and while it is tempting to tell the board "stand your ground" at the end of the day, delays to resolution only hurt our kids and the damage is to their pursuit of an education not a missed field hockey game.

Can the board use a strike as an opportunity to get out from under the onerous healthcare benefits where we will be paying a "Cadillac" penalty? First, the teachers strike, or effectively "quit" - send them COBRA notices and IMMEDIATELY cancel all health insurance for the teachers. Now, if or when they finally come back, no longer offer the plans that will cause the district to pay penalties under the ACA.

In three years they'll want more money! More money,more health care, more pension income. In return for no change at all. THE OBAMA WAY! And the Unions get richer, great.

It takes two to tango, people. The teachers are ready to dance...it's the Board that has not budged from the sidelines. If you are going to use inflammatory remarks like "the children are being held hostage," then be fair and apportion the metaphor of hostage-taking to both sides.

As far as firing teachers, killing benefits, etc...regardless what happened in Wisconsin you cannot expect or hope for Lake Forest High School to become the index case for teacher union busting in Illinois. They need to work within the structure that is established now, and these ill-informed calls to treat teachers like air-traffic controllers under Reagan are not helpful and reside in a fantasy world.

I know that not a few people here have strong anti-union agendas. That's fine, that's your politics...but our community and our school district is not the place to start building your brave new world in union-heavy Illinois. If you want Illinois to become a right-to-work state, then target your energies and anger towards Springfield...not to our school.

Really? Over $100k a year, about 8 months a year, 6 or 7 hour workday, no fear of being fired, top-tier health and retirement benefits, retirement at 55 years old, and a safe work environment. They have the stones to threaten us? Fire them and let them enter the real world.

I would imagine there are thousands of unemployed teachers out there that would love the chance to teach at LFHS, on a merit based system. The corporate world as well as the rest of the world has moved forward. The days of guaranteed raises, cost of living raises, pensions and fully paid benefits are behind us. These folks need to get real.

If you take the time to read what both sides have offered, you would see that at the end of the "board's contract" they would be in a surplus state of 23 million dollars. Schools are a non-profit entity and run as such. Those funds are in the fund for the teacher's salaries. If you think the school is in a short-fall and unable to pay their bills, take that anger out on the state. NOT the teachers. NOT the students. The board is not working in good faith. IF they were, lawsuits wouldn't have been filed..with approval of the mediator. Address the issues, where the money is coming from is not one of them. If you didn't value the education your children were receiving at LFHS you would have moved already.

Since we are only received filtered news through the union and school board on this subject, the most logical thing to do for the public is to demand that all negotiations be conducted in public in full view of an audience of residents. Then we can determine what the true issues are and who is being unreasonable.

Here's some info I would like those who side with the teachers to please respond to. Salary Data for 1 of LFHS tenured teachers, +25 years (name withheld) from the "Open The Books" app:

2011 - $149,852
2010 - $141,370
2009 - $133,368
2007 - $120,178
2006 - $113,871
2005 - $105,700

Since 2007 and the Great Recession, this person's income has gone up every year by $6-9k guaranteed. 2012 is listed yet, but based on the trend we are looking at $155,000 at least easy. Since 2005, that has been a 47% increase. Anybody else get these kind of salary increases JUST FOR SHOWING UP TO WORK? There are no more evaluations with this person since tenure has taken over.

This individual is nearing retirement and is clearly trying to cook the books one more time before heading to Florida, as the pension will be based on the 4 last four years of service. How anybody thinks the teachers at LFHS are somehow disadvantaged is a testament to how mindless we have become as a nation when these facts stare someone right in the face and they don't believe them.

You be the judge. This information can be found at: http://www.familytaxpayers.org/salary.php

Rnk Name Salary Yrs Assignment
1 Filippo Anthony 168740 33 Physical Education
2 Richards Evan 153016 35 Physics (Grades 9-12 Only)
3 Benson Rhonda 151701 31 Driver Education
4 Clark Diane 151530 31 English (Grades 9-12 Only)
5 Gress Charles 149852 30 Calculus (Grades 9-12 Only)
6 Papp Barbara 146724 36 Guidance Counselor
7 Brandes David 142452 23 Guidance Counselor
8 Gibson Laura 142201 33 Calculus (Grades 9-12 Only)
9 Straus Robin 140166 33 Physical Education
10 Spagnoli Charles 137607 21 Physical Education
11 Kuhl Mark 136593 26 World History (Grades 9-12 Only)
12 Gantt Lloyd 135403 40 World History (Grades 9-12 Only)
13 Kopriva Karen 134449 32 English (Grades 9-12 Only)
14 Cooney Tamar 134325 21 Biology (Grades 9-12 Only)
15 Jerch Janie 134242 26 Geometry (Grades 9-12 Only)
16 Clegg Stephen 133945 18 Economics (Grades 9-12 Only)
17 Mueller Rebecca 132581 26 English (Grades 9-12 Only)
18 Antrim Wendy 132483 28 Art
19 Naughton Bradley 132076 17 Guidance Counselor
20 Littel Kerry 131418 5 Librarian/Media Specialist
21 Johnson Pamela 131344 30 Learning Behavior Specialist I
22 Heroux Kathryn 130695 21 Chemistry (Grades 9-12 Only)
23 Coad Daniel 130594 29 Calculus (Grades 9-12 Only)
24 Haskett Timothy 130099 27 Vocal Music
25 Nawor Mary Beth 129965 17 Environmental Science

Rnk Name Salary Yrs Assignment
26 Hoak Bradford 129221 34 Physics (Grades 9-12 Only)
27 Zare Debra 129129 22 Art
28 Freedman Keith 128428 22 Algebra
29 Hawkins David 127865 33 English (Grades 9-12 Only)
30 Westrich Andrea 127651 23 Spanish
31 Jensen Elizabeth 127347 30 Geometry (Grades 9-12 Only)
32 Woodruff Philip 127245 20 Latin
33 Landvick Ariel 127011 20 Latin
34 Osing Mark 126009 27 English (Grades 9-12 Only)
35 Berkshire Jacqueline 125969 29 Guidance Counselor
36 McKee Kelly 125130 22 World History (Grades 9-12 Only)
37 Donlon William 124643 14 Student Dean
38 Macius Albert 123814 29 Algebra
39 Thumm Linda 123326 28 Learning Behavior Specialist I
40 Webster Trent 123291 24 Driver Education
41 Horan Sandra 122846 23 Learning Behavior Specialist I
42 Yavetsky Andre 122743 19 Spanish
43 Wagemann Robert 121480 18 Guidance Counselor
44 Brown Denise 121219 15 Guidance Counselor
45 Bower Diane 120567 6 Nurse
46 McHaney Tamara 120541 26 Learning Behavior Specialist I
47 Wolfe Elizabeth 120137 16 Biology (Grades 9-12 Only)
48 Gilbert Scott 118609 15 Learning Behavior Specialist I
49 Del Fava Raymond 116977 4 English (Grades 9-12 Only)
50 Lesniak Frank 115420 10 Learning Behavior Specialist I

Rnk Name Salary Yrs Assignment
51 Kessler Janene 114867 16 Instrumental Music
52 Jones Kimberly 114261 16 Learning Behavior Specialist I
53 Koerner Mary 113610 22 German
54 Snell Jennifer 113414 11 Algebra
55 Chantler Julie 113140 10 Learning Behavior Specialist I
56 Lindsey Shelly 113044 6 Algebra
57 Clegg Laura 112843 12 Student Dean
58 Knight Jennifer 112020 11 Student Dean
59 Ferges Lance 111065 13 English (Grades 9-12 Only)
60 Davenport Candice 110663 8 Environmental Science
61 Miles Megan 109957 11 Guidance Counselor
62 Finley Christopher 109777 13 English (Grades 9-12 Only)
63 Flangel Laura 107596 17 Sociology (Grades 9-12 Only)
64 Maigler Daniel 105937 8 Social Worker
65 Doucette Melissa 105762 16 Art
66 Moore Richard 105334 12 English (Grades 9-12 Only)
67 Gigiano Thomas 104785 13 World History (Grades 9-12 Only)
68 Schuessler Kurt 104528 8 Biology (Grades 9-12 Only)
69 Birtman Amy 104321 26 English (Grades 9-12 Only)
70 Barndt Darren 103829 14 Cabinet Maker/Millworker
71 Sandler Leslie 102897 19 Spanish
72 Eccleston Jane 102732 11 English (Grades 9-12 Only)
73 Ferrari Matthew 102452 16 English (Grades 9-12 Only)
74 Slater Bridget 102430 17 Algebra
75 Werner Ray 102245 12 Physical Education

Rnk Name Salary Yrs Assignment
76 Van Nuys Stephen 101810 9 U.S. History (Grades 9-12 Only)
77 Douglass Stephen 101430 6 Radio & TV Broadcasting
78 Clark Carol 101263 8 English (Grades 9-12 Only)
79 Sheeran Denis 101185 12 Algebra
80 Lowry Matthew 101008 13 Physics (Grades 9-12 Only)
81 Ruda Bradley 100534 13 English (Grades 9-12 Only)
82 Sorensen Rebecca 100379 6 Chemistry (Grades 9-12 Only)
83 Micksch Nancy 99914 10 World History (Grades 9-12 Only)
84 Lawrenz Michelle 98669 10 Learning Behavior Specialist I
85 Bielski Carolyn 98605 14 Art
86 Wise Andrea 96995 10 Spanish
87 De Rosa Joseph 96025 6 U.S. History (Grades 9-12 Only)
88 Dukats Mara 94973 7 English (Grades 9-12 Only)
89 Secker Katherine 94806 10 Learning Behavior Specialist I
90 Runft Brian 94656 6 Trigonometry (Grades 9-12 Only)
91 Song Heather 94413 12 French
92 Lemke Andrea 94255 6 Calculus (Grades 9-12 Only)
93 Johnson Todd 94031 12 Cabinet Maker/Millworker
94 Levinson Marni 93795 12 Spanish
95 Dunn Stephen 93551 13 Political Science/Civics (Grades 9-12 Only)
96 Wanninger John 93288 5 English (Grades 9-12 Only)
97 Alexander Collier Cindy 93208 9 U.S. History (Grades 9-12 Only)
98 Foster Steven 92016 11 Learning Behavior Specialist I
99 Patel Nitin 91681 8 Chemistry (Grades 9-12 Only)
100 Bassill Robert 91500 8 Instrumental Music

Actually "me," the funds now belong to the school. You funded them through your taxes, but the money is not yours anymore. Your say in how the monies are used is limited to your votes for the school board membership, and any petition you make during their meetings.

You could cut the teachers' pay down to slave wages and you wouldn't see any difference on your tax bill. The money comes from the property assessment...if you want lower property taxes, the only way you will get them is to convince the County to devalue your home. The District will take the same amount from all taxpayers regardless of what teacher pay is.

There are a lot of calls here for teachers to be paid "like everyone else in the real world." The motivation seems to be a desire to downgrade the teaching profession, or make them "sacrifice like we have."

Aside from the fact that the teachers already took a pay freeze last year, these are emotional arguments and not relevant to a contract negotiation. What you or any other taxpayer earns or doesn't earn at their job is not a factor in creating a public school teacher compensation package. What IS a factor is what other schools are doing...and in that regard, the LFHS offer is way behind.

It's not just the pay...actually I think the pay is the most negotiable of all of it...it's the two-tier system for new hires and the renegotiation clause which effectively bust the union. This is not the time or place to attack teacher unions. Just make a deal.

Sure, the teachers make a lot of money. This isn't news. They make a lot of money in every high school district around here, all of which will have a very similary top 100 salaries.

So...you are saying teachers are overpaid, should be paid less...on what grounds? Because you are amazed at their salaries? Because you don't make as much? Because you think they are lazy or unworthy?

NONE of these are reasons you can bring to a contract negotiation. Our Board can't stonewall the teachers because you don't like their high pay. They need a financial justification to make contract cuts. THAT is what is at issue here, and what is being disputed. Even our "evil board" knows that...and you'll notice that they are not using any of these arguments, because they know they are irrelevant. It's about finances.

That's all it can be about. I'm sorry you don't like what teachers get paid. Welcome to the reality of the north shore, for the past 40 years. Find a better argument, because your anger or envy or disdain for high teacher pay cannot be a factor in a negotiation.

Ok, then what? Go ahead and fill the school with cheaper teachers. Really cheap ones d you can. Nothing changes for you. You pay the same taxes regardless. So what is your dog in this hunt, really?

The salaries above listed are accurate but they do include coaching and extra duties. And all LFEA teachers salaries were frozen last school year.

@James, at some point the guaranteed $6-9k increases have to be stopped, it's just that simple. At some point, paying these increased salaries, benefits, and pensions is going to cost someone, most likely in higher property taxes or some lower level teachers job. We're trying to prevent this, and the teachers are being unreasonable. When public employees start making more than the private sector employees that pay their salary, something is going to eventually give.

I've said my piece...it's clear that what rankles people here is that a group of well-paid employees are about to go on strike, as if somehow fighting for a better contract than the one offered is not within their rights, or is something they don't deserve.

I don't know if the same anger or resistance would be present if this was a blue collar union, or even a Wal-Mart (which isn't unionized). I doubt it. There seems to be some kind of line, in this group anyway, that declares that once you make a certain amount of money, take it or leave it. I sincerely hope none of you find yourself in this position someday, where your employer (and the community or clientele that backs them) decides that you've made enough, and if you don't like it, leave, we'll find someone cheaper to take your place.

Perhaps that's already happened to some of you. And maybe that's why we see all this distrust and derision for a group of generally peaceful and caring individuals who have, in the end, devoted their lives to our children.

That you would run them out, replace them with less experienced and more transient staff, just to see that money now spent on more office furniture and landscaping, is a sorry thing indeed. Sorry because it speaks to a resentment that has no logic...you won't see a dime more or less in your pockets no matter what the outcome of this strike.

Consider what drives that resentment. It's not the teachers or the Board.

The salaries are absurd!! And those numbers do not include all benefits. There is no question there are some wonderful teachers - but to ask for more money on top of the raises they have already received in this economy is more absurd. Get rid of all of them and let them find reality. LF Resident and Parent

How sad it is that our teachers are being held hostage by their own union. First, the word is that the union held its strike vote with no secret ballot- resulting in tremendous peer pressure on the teachers to vote "yes"- while communicating, explicitly or implicitly, that the vote was "just for leverage." Now their leadership is playing childish games- refusing to meet last night, let alone over the weekend- claiming they want parents to be involved and "attend the Board meeting..." Let's translate that: they hope that parents will pressure the Board at zero hour into meeting the Union's demands.

Teachers, there are people in our community who don't have health care, in contrast to you, who enjoy several of your health care choices paid for 100% by we taxpayers. Others are desperate for jobs, in contrast to you, scorning the 3% or so raise being offered. Your Union's demand for 6% insults us- and yes, it is 6% when you add up the piece parts.

Here's a prediction: in that teachers lose about 2%-3% of their annual pay each week this goes on, look for the Union to demand that teachers be made whole as a final condition to returning to work. The Union wanted a strike from day one, still feeling burned from last year. We don't need parents to pressure the Board; we need teachers to pressure their union to wake-up and realize that LF homeowners aren't sheep to be fleeced. Teachers: we may support you, but your union is a disgrace.

I hope people are taking note about how outraged the community is that these teachers would even think about striking. Fire them all if they dont want to be at LFHS and get paid the second highest wage in the state. Give me a break teachers, your a teacher, feel blessed to make over 75k!

@Gary - great job. People seeing these salaries now know what we are dealing with here. These teachers are not disadvantaged. The Silent Majority will be silent no more as more and more people see these figures. Everybody, this will be the hot topic this week, this weekend, until this is resolved. Share this information! When rational people see this, taxpayers will win...

Wow! I'm not sure there is a clearer example of how grossly out of line public employee compensation is from the real world (read private sector). Gym teachers and Drivers ed instructors making over 150k/yr??? If only I wasn't paying over 40k/year in prop taxes, I might find this mildly amusing.

Teachers Reading This - Please know that if you strike, there is a good chance this will become national news. Because of the Chicago strike going national, this will be an easy add-on story about how out of touch Illinois public sector teacher unions are, right in the President's home state.

Just warning you come later this week, your public salary might really go public....

I'm reading these comments, and shocked at the venom in our community. I'm a teacher, a Lake Forest native (family came in the 1840s), and I love my job. As I teach my students to recognize opinion from fact, and to deal with others in a respectful way, I am constantly amazed at the adults in our town who never learned to do that. Our country has become so hate-filled - people can't have intelligent differences of opinion....there's a judgment call on everything. I laugh when I see people saying to "fire 'em all!" ("off with their heads!")......Having had four children go through the high school and grade school systems, I find THAT to be the most ludicrous statement - bring in anybody and everybody with an education degree - these professionals can be replaced! Really?? How would all of you like that sentiment in your workplaces? Could happen, CEOs and bankers, and management people. Please let cooler heads prevail. I'm using your comments in my third grade classroom this week, to show that many adults have never learned important lessons about respect for others.

Is this the same Linda that ditched the teaching job for a Real Estate Hat only to come scrambling back years later to jump back on the free money,"pension train?"

@ Mr. Ritter, regarding your above comment: "... I'm sorry you don't like what teachers get paid. Welcome to the reality of the north shore, for the past 40 years. Find a better argument, because your anger or envy or disdain for high teacher pay cannot be a factor in a negotiation."

Well, high teacher pay is a HUGE problem that needs to be addressed because of the Illinois pension situation. The BoE is being responsible in recognizing that pension reform is at some point going to have to shift pension liabilities from the state to local responsibility. They are actually doing the MORAL thing in this regard because wealthy areas like the North Shore have been spiking pay without having to worry about bearing the full cost of the pensions that the high pay creates. And poorer parts of the state have been left to pay the price of our irresponsibility. I guess the LF union likes to think that they are just taking money from "rich" people who somehow deserve to pay. But, how does it make you feel to know that your inflated pay currently is making poor people in other parts of the state pay more to feather your nests?

I find all of this exhausting!! My Father used to say, "there are 2 things you need to remember, the world is full of a_ _ _ _ _ _ s and EVERYONE can be replaced." Funny thing is, when all the Ninnies out there re-elect OBAMA, we're all f_ _ _ _ _ and none of this will matter. ;-)

brought up family history to respond to the charming comment about how the h.s. teachers "shouldn't be allowed in 'our' town." Whose town? We all belong. The venom continues with comments to anyone who tries to speak rationally about discourse. For all of us who are passionate about teaching, and trying to prepare children to create a better world, keep up your attacks. They indicate your .concern for those children - sure, they do.

Anyone have the top 100 list for CTU teacher's salary for comparison?

I would also bet that other northern suburb school teachers at Stevenson or New Trier do equally well like the LF teachers.

Showed my husband and grown kids this site, and advised them to subscribe so they could see, first hand, what happens when one dares to question histrionics. For the record, I'm the one who worked while my husband went to grad school, and I'm the one who finally graduated at age 33. Had several jobs in the "real world" during all those years. Wanted to be a teacher since I was a first grade student at St. Mary's. Hit me with your best shot on my motives. Please take a look at the
"man" (woman?) in the mirror, and ask why my concern about civility brings out such caustic remarks. For those thinking I should be fired, what is your rational reason? Is it because I teach children to respect other people? Ouch. Scary times for those of us who believe in kindness and concern for others. None of the teachers at LFHS (or any other school) made their career choice for the big bucks and benefits. To say that that was their motivation is totally irrational. Look at any dedicated teacher and you will see a passion that is unstoppable. Please treat them with dignity. You can dislike their request for pay and equity with a tiered system, but stop the ugliness. It's so distasteful.

Perhaps WE, the TAXPAYER should go on strike.

@Linda - Thankyou.

Request??? Is that how you define "give us what we want or else we will walk out on the children that we are here to teach"?

Here in the real world there are loads of examples of a "tiered" system. When economic conditions changed, most companies could no longer afford traditional pensions so they switched to defined contribution plans. The existing employees were grandfathered in and new hires didn't have access. Economic times are forcing a change in Teacherland as well. The existing employees could agree to the new system or they could say no and there would need to be a bifurcated system where new hires take longer to reach the top pay levels. So you see, it is the teachers who are forcing the tiered system on the new hires because they refuse to accept change. They are saying that there are entitled to the same deal forever even though the taxpayers who fund their salaries, pensions and health plans are living in the reality of the real world.

I have no animosity toward teachers as people, only toward their greed and unwillingness accept reality.

I am so saddened by the vitriol that is being spewed here. Threatening to "get a person fired" is exactly the mentality that drives good teachers out of Lake Forest, or any place for that matter, and that phrase in the community is far too common. Providing food for teachers on a half day is great and all, but acutally supporting them goes a long way.

The problem here is that both sides have a valid point. The economy is not good, and people are moving out of Lake Forest. Hence, less money. Which makes sense. But many of the teachers on that list have been on staff at LFHS for years... upwards of multiple decades... so it isn't really fair to compare that to a new teacher right out of college. However, what the BOE is proposing is to create a new salary schedule for new teachers... that, to me, sounds unfair to them. Many of you are complaining about the teachers, and screaming for the board to hire new ones. Here's the bottom line - for what you all demand out of your teachers (and what has been done in the past when those demands are not met, for real and through rumor), NO ONE is going to stay for long... its like charter schools. They hire new teachers, burn them out, and push them out. Lake Forest should want to attract teachers who stay for their entire careers (good teacher, mind you), who get to the top of the salary scale.

Just a different perspective.

Test

@concernerned - relax, Linda can't be fired. She is tenured, remember? Even if she wasn't, it is hardly a capital offense for her to speak her mind. I am more concerned by the HS teachers who are pleading their case to the students there.

As with other policy issues, facts are crucial, but rarely revealed. First, what are teachers at LFHS paid? Since they are public employees, that information is public. Go to: www.familytaxpayers.org/salary.php. To provide a true comparison, the salaries listed should be increased by 20% to reflect that teachers work only 10 months a year. You will note that there is absolutely no correlation between teacher pay and competence. Some of the best teachers get paid the least and vice versa. Second, what are teachers' pensions? For most teachers, this is based on a calculation that takes their highest 4 years of earnings (note that at least one of these will be inflated by accumulated sick days or other items), multiplied by 2.2% and then again by years of service. For example, a teacher who makes approximately $150,000 per year in their last four years, and who has 30 years of service, will have a lifetime pension of approximately $100,000 per year (yes, that's for life.) Yes, they don't get social security, but they don't pay into it either.
So, here's the real question: how can the teacher's union justify getting paid what they do--let alone more--given the following comparison to those who pay their salaries (us taxpayers):
--Raises of less than 3% per year, if any raise at all
--No lifetime job security
--Having to pay 20-30%+ of health insurance costs
--No pensions, let alone one that's 2/3 of our salaries
--Pay based on delivering results, not just time in grade

@concerned citizen
This analysis reflects your misunderstanding of e reality of teaching
Compare how much other professions make with masters degrees?
Teachers put in 12 months of work in 10....long hours
And...why do you not want to attract the best of the best in the profession that takes care of my most important possession
Why do you want to short change my kids education?

@Jeff - You make it sound as though we are asking teachers to bunk together in a single-wide mobile home. We are talking about giving them raises in excess of 3% annually on top of their already generous salaries. We are asking them to pay only a portion of their pension costs and we are asking them to accept insurance plans that are in line with the plans that we the taxpayers who fund the schools receive in our jobs. We also are saying that it is ridiculous that you can reach the top of your pay scale in 20 years and then move on to another state and start building another fat pension there.

Thank you, Linda, whoever you are! Please do use this site as a teaching tool.. Many of these posters forget some taxpayer paid their way for their education and forget that teachers are our partners in not only educating but intervening when our youth are on the wrong path . These people lack respect for others. Look at what an uncivil ugly hate-filled world our kids will enter and none clearly worse than the financially privileged who complain when they may have to pay more. Using their logic maybe if they can't afford to live here they should just leave. I think we'd be better off as a community. Attacking teachers! Next it will be to attack police and firemen who protect our little bubble-land.

I sincere hope the people with OCD posting here all day don't represent the majority of LF residents and get back on their meds. Perhaps they will find happiness or go elsewhere and find it.. My goodness-I wonder if any of you miserable hate filled people go to my LF church?!

Well I would like to say some of you people are sooooo disgusting saying fire the teachers you've already gone through the education system so the difference between new unexperienced teachers and teachers that know the curriculum and students doesn't matter to you stop being so god damn uptight do what's best for your kids these teachers know your kids and understand how to teach them Properly compared to the teachers we would get if something doesn't get ressolved also the parents that think there kids don't want these days of are crazy some of u people need to step out of this bubble and stop being such stuck up bitches

Strike is on, teachers be prepared to lose your asses

I have a feeling most of these comments come from the moms that have the privilege to stay at home all day and not work while there husbands make a shit ton of money get over yourselves people

I recently decided to visit a psychiatrist because I could not stop my uncontrollable urge to read the comments on the Patch forums. I wanted to understand my irrational need to subject myself to such things.

Well, after several sessions and some hypnosis, I uncovered a repressed memory that explained it all. It turns out that when I was a kid, I liked to go to the zoo. That's normal of course, but I was different. My favorite thing at the zoo was when the monkeys threw their feces through the bars. Once, the monkey feces hit me right in the face, and for some unknown reason, I really liked the feeling of that monkey feces flying at me.

So now I understand why I read the Patch.

Haha omg u want to fight a kid!! Ur cool

U said I was a left wing high school student......

The problem is everyone wants their child to get the best education but they don't want to pay for it. Someone said "fire all the teacher" that's a great resolution. Then you can hire teachers from Zion or Waukegan and see where that takes the kids. Parents who don't support teachers should be ashamed of themselves. This is truly disgusting.

Does anyone realize that no one on the LFHS Board of Education has a child at the high school?

Reading all these comments full of bitter emotion explains the state of the world.

It's so funny...the school web site says that the teacher union continues to demand pay increases of more than double the consumer price index...Does anyone know what the current consumer price index is, or what it has been over the last year? Well, it is currently at 0. Yes, zero. Check the Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov/news) It was zero in June and July of 2012, and actually -0.3 for May. Spin, spin, spin...

@P. Jocelyn - So, if the BLS CPI number for last year was zero, then any increase based upon inflation is unwarranted. The teachers actually are looking for significant pay increases over and above the cost of living just for achieving that lofty goal of maintaining a pulse. Well done.

What inflation? And thank you.

And by the way, the cost of living index is not the consumer price index. The high school web site is stating that the teachers are seeking pay increases of more than double the CONSUMER PRICE INDEX, which is ZERO!!! You can fool some of the people some of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all of the time...

The teachers claim to have had a salary freeze last year. http://www.familytaxpayers.org/salary.php

Rnk Name 2011 Incr Salary 2010 Incr Salary 2009 Salary
1 Filippo___ 3.14% 168740 8.94% 163605 150178
2 Richards_ 6.00% 153016 6.00% 144355 136184
3 Benson__ 6.00% 151701 4.92% 143115 136405
4 Clark____ 6.00% 151530 6.00% 142953 134861
5 Gress___ 6.00% 149852 6.00% 141370 133367
6 Papp____ 6.00% 146724 6.00% 138419 130584
7 Brandes_ 4.94% 142452 5.85% 135751 128247
8 Gibson__ 6.00% 142201 6.00% 134152 126559
9 Straus___ 6.00% 140166 5.96% 132232 124792
10 Spagnoli 5.37% 137607 2.14% 130589 127856
11 Kuhl____ 3.41% 136593 1.82% 132084 129720
12 Gantt___ 4.10% 135403 2.92% 130072 126381
13 Kopriva_ 3.84% 134449 2.07% 129472 126846
14 Cooney_ 7.41% 134325 3.19% 125064 121203
15 Jerch___ 6.00% 134242 6.00% 126643 119474
16 Clegg___ 6.47% 133945 7.01% 125803 117566
17 Mueller__ 6.00% 132581 3.88% 125077 120406
18 Antrim_ -10.28% 132483 1.30% 147660 145768
19 Naughton 7.23% 132076 -4.59% 123166 129098
20 Littel____ 8.65% 131418 12.04% 120959 107956
21 Johnson_ 6.00% 131344 1.48% 123909 122098
22 Heroux__ 6.00% 130695 5.09% 123297 117324
23 Coad___ 3.71% 130594 2.45% 125922 122908
24 Haskett_ -0.48% 130099 6.85% 130732 122346
25 Nawor__ 5.76% 129965 6.15% 122888 115770

The teachers and their union aren't satisfied with those salaries and those pay increases, and have taken their $40 million dollar ball and gone home. They have shown everyone what their priorities are, and now we need to show our children what our priorities are.

It's time to focus on rebuilding the school and getting our kids back in the classroom and on the playing field as fast as possible so that they can have the high school experience they deserve.

There are a lot of online educational tools, so I thought I'd bring some of them to your attention:

www.k12.com - clearing house for online schools
www.k12.com/cvcs - Chicago virtual charter school

www.kahnacademy.com - Quirky, but can be very effective

www.youtube.com - There are a large number of courses of every variety, and quality on youtube. I have done lots of professional training uses courses available on youtube.

There are many others that can be added to this list.

A quick core curriculum can be created from these resources, the kids can be brought into school and set up on computers, and school can be considered "in session" so extra-curricular activity can move on while the teaching staff is rebuilt.

The school is recruiting helpers: www.lfhs.org

"Important Information - Strike is Announced and begins effective Wednesday, September 12, 2012

LFHS Seeks Help for Support Roles

If you would like to serve in a support role at Lake Forest High School during the teachers’ strike, please contact Gail Moesta at 847-582-7388 for more information or to set up a time to complete the application process."

The teachers walked the walk, and now that they have walked, it's our turn.

Oh that's just great. That's the back-up plan? What happened to all the out of work teachers that would love to teach at LFHS?