-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
Summary and audio linked here.
Chicago’s political leadership is floating a pension buyout program as evidence it is seriously addressing the city’s thirty-six-billion-dollar unfunded pension liability, but Mark Glennon, founder of the Illinois policy research organization Wirepoints, said that the proposal moves debt from one column to another rather than reducing it, and that the broader fiscal picture facing the city continues to deteriorate across every measurable dimension. Audio here.
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
The state’s existing buyout program for its own pensions is the precedent for Chicago, which should be a warning: Look out for similar exaggerated claims and shoddy analysis.
Full interview and summary linked here.
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School librarians are teachers who are licensed educators like any other teacher in publicly funded schools, which is something that needs to be made clear to parents and the public. We do not just check out books. Managing the library includes more than just checking out books and shelving them, it includes maintaining the online catalog (technical and cataloging skills the parents do not have), placing orders, repairing books, and reviewing books. We also teach the very important information literacy skills, which creates diacritical thinking citizens who can research information and make educated decisions. “Rachel Lessem, a member of the… Read more »
I don’t think anyone questions the value of a librarian. The main issue here is the union’s stance on this matter is either you can have a library with a union-staffed librarian or no library at all.
Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Administrative Code 1 Title 23 Subtitle A Sub-chapter a SUBPART D: THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM Section 1.420 Basic Standards o) Library Media Programs states: Each school district shall provide a program of library media services for the students in each of its schools. Each district’s program shall meet the requirements of this subsection (o). 4) Staff Nothing in this subsection (o)(4) shall be construed as prohibiting districts or schools from sharing the services of individuals qualified under Section 1.755, and nothing in this subsection (o) shall be construed as permitting an individual who is not… Read more »
Yes, we understand full well that you’ve had Springfield in you pocket and have gotten laws like this passed.
“”They entered TRS under the law and are participating members of TRS.” Dan Montgomery, IFT President, in response to one of his employees, Steve Preckwinkle, teaching one day as a substitute teacher then subsequently becoming eligible for a teacher pension.
The union was simply enforcing state law. Still doesn’t make it right, now does it?
You forgot the other half of the code (see below), which offers plenty of options to staff this position in absence of an official librarian . Furthermore, this law is about the program, not the single task of checking books or managing the space, which is often handled by library aides (read: students). A) In the event that no employee of the district holds any of the qualifications enumerated in Section 1.755, the individual to whom direction of the program is assigned shall be required to participate annually in professional development consisting of: i) undergraduate or graduate coursework in library… Read more »