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Chicago Public Schools employee salaries, 2011
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Chicago Public Schools employee salaries are a matter of public record under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act.
Salaries
According to a payroll database compiled by the Illinois-based watchdog group Better Government Association, there were 61 Chicago Public Schools employees earning more than $150,000 annually in 2011.[1] The BGA database does not allow searches to be broken down by department, only last name or salary value.
- CEO Jean-Claude Brizzard earned $250,000
- General Counsel James Bebley earned a salary of $150,966.80
- Crystal Bell, principal at Ella Flagg Young School, earned $151,928.06
- Sandra Carlson, principal of William P Gray School, earned $154,920.86
- Jennifer Cheatham, Chief Area Officer at Area 9 Instruction Office, earned $151,131.44
- Debbie Graye, Human Resources Officer, earned $165,000
- Clarice Jackson-Berry, Administrator of CW-Office of Human Capital, earned $160,848.73
- Melanie Jopek Shaker, Acting Officer of the Treasury, earned $170,000
- General Counsel Patrick Rocks earned $182,094.48
- Robert Runcie, Chief Area Officer at Chief Area Office 17, earned $179,166.67
- Richard Smith, Chief Specialized Services Officer of Special Education, earned $175,000
- Alicia Winckler, Executive Officer for Human Resources in the Office of Human Capital, earned $205,000
- Andrew Manno, Principal of Gurdon S. Hubbard High School, earned $154,920.86
- Harry Randell, Principal of Richard Yates School, earned $154,920.86
- Karen Saffold, Chief Area Officer for Area 16 Instruction Office, earned $151,131.44
- Maria Rodriguez O'keefe, Principal of Frank W Reilly School, earned $154,920.86
- Michael Shields, Director Of Security, earned $150,000
As of 2011, the average teacher salary in Chicago Public Schools was $69,000. Salaries vary according to years of experience and level of education. Teachers average a 3% to 5% increase every year for the first 13 years of service and can get an average 3.8% pay bump for earning an advanced degree.[2]
Benefits
Chicago Public School officials did not respond to a public records request for information on employee benefits in dollars for 2008-2011. According to the CPS Human Resources Office, employees have access to multiple benefits.
- Medical coverage includes five health options – Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO, United Healthcare HMO, United Healthcare PPO with Heath Reimbursement Account, United Healthcare PPO and Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO. Single, couple or family coverage is available. CPS shares in cost of coverage.
- Dental coverage includes two plans, a PPO or Dental HMO(DHMO). Single, couple or family coverage. Insured by Delta Dental. CPS shares in cost of coverage.
- Basic vision coverage
- $25,000 death benefit
- 403(b)/457 Voluntary Retirement Plans
Salary records project
In 2011, Sunshine Review chose 152 local governments as the focus of research on public employee salaries. The editors of Sunshine Review selected eight states with relevant political contexts (listed alphabetically):
1. California
2. Florida
3. Illinois
4. Michigan
5. New Jersey
6. Pennsylvania
7. Texas
8. Wisconsin
Within these states, the editors of Sunshine Review focused on the most populous cities, counties and school districts, as well as the emergency services entities within these governments. The purpose of this selection method was to develop articles on governments affecting the most citizens.
The salary information garnered from these states were a combination of existing online resources and state Freedom of Information Act requests sent out to the governments.
A study published by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia said the city of Philadelphia faced challenges owing to the cost of public employee pensions.[3] The report claimed the amount that Philadelphia paid to pension recipients limited the city’s ability to use its budget effectively.
The report said there were more individuals receiving pension benefits—33,907 claimants in 2006—than workers in the city—28,701.[3] The authors recommended three steps towards addressing the problem of high costs in pensions: improved data collection, expanded transparency initiatives, and reductions to the city's overall budget.[3]
Salary schedules can be published as ranges, not as specific compensation figures, and may leave out compensation received through health and retirement benefits, as well as benefits such as commuter allowances and cell phone reimbursements. This project aimed to close the gap and provide a more accurate picture of public employee salaries for the sake of public education and transparency.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Better Government Association, Payroll Database, July 21, 2011
- ↑ The Chicago Tribune, "CPS, teachers union face off over pay raise," June 16, 2011
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 '’Philadelphia’s Quiet Crisis: The Rising Cost of Employee Benefits, Pew Charitable Trusts and the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia, January 23, 2008
