By: Ted Dabrowski
The near-$500,000 salary being doled out to a superintendent in a failing school district captures the absurdity that is Illinois governance. The big-pay-for-failure is tied to at least three major problems that Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his Democratic supermajorities continue to perpetuate: near-zero accountability at public schools; the nation’s highest property taxes; and the unfairness of Illinois’ pension system.
First the background. The Lansing Journal reports that Dolton School District 148’s Superintendent Kevin J. Nohelty is set to receive a salary of $480,000, a hike of $30,000. Nohelty’s pay increases, up $188,000 since 2019, look like the surge that many superintendents in Illinois get at the end of their careers. Salary spiking, they call it. It pumps up operating costs and eventually, it turns into a big pension. More on that later.
$500,000 pay is executive-level pay usually reserved for big time performers, so let’s see what success looks like at Dolton’s elementary school district. Nearly 2,000 kids attend the district and here’s the data straight from the Illinois Report Card and the Illinois State Board of Education.
- Kids reading at grade level: 19%
- Kids doing math at grade level: 7%
- Student chronic absenteeism: 47%
- Teachers with 10+ days absences: 69%
- Teachers rated “Excellent or Proficient”: 97%
Most Dolton kids can’t read and they can’t do math. Many are several grades behind. It’s a sad situation that’s playing out in districts across the state, not just in Dolton. And yet the system is consistently rewarded – handsomely. Property taxes go higher and higher. And so do budget-breaking pensions. Nohelty’s big raise is just another sign at just how little accountability there is to everyday Illinoisans. Read our full report here for an in-depth review of just how deep the problems have become.
Now, don’t think Kevin Nohelty is the only one. There are a whole bunch of big-paid superintendents in the state. It’s just that Nohelty has the top spot. Keep an eye on what happens in other school districts going forward. Nohelty is now the benchmark and others will follow. “We have to be competitive,” they’ll say.
Below are the results of the top 20 paid supers statewide.
The other problem with the big salaries is that they turn into massive pensions: $300,000-plus yearly pensions for the big supers. And they turn into $8 to $10 million in total lifetime payouts.
The formulas for pensions, not just for the big guys but for all beneficiaries, is that they are overly generous. They don’t have to put much money in to get big money out. Check out how little they put in compared to their current yearly pensions.
What’s fascinating about this malgovernance is that it’s happening at the same time that Illinois’ legislature is looking to attack homeschooling. State lawmakers can’t hold accountable what they do control, and yet they now want to make a mess for homeschoolers and homeschooling.
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All of the above is part of what I call “legal corruption” in Illinois. Lawmakers get away with it because they can. Because we let them.
Nothing will change until we reject the malgovernance, and then replace it with something more normal. More fair. And more accountable.
Read more from Wirepoints:
- Homeschooling and the hypocrisy of Illinois politicians
- One big reason your Illinois property taxes are so high. And why you should get a big refund.
- No matter what Pritzker or the Tribune says, Illinois’ NAEP education results are abysmal
- Chicago’s Southland residents are irate about their property tax hikes. Wait till they see how their money is being spent.
A mess of uncertainty and litigation is sure to follow.
With $162 billion more from taxpayers, couldn’t you deliver a few bond upgrades, too
Audio and summary
And keep in mind…….when these folks retire, a majority of them will move to another state to enjoy a lower cost of living and a better climate. Hence…..they will be spending their enormous pensions elsewhere, stimulating the economy of another state.
“a majority of them will move to another state”
Where did you get that statistic? The last report I read about 7 years ago shows that around 83% of pensioners stay in Illinois after retirement. Not even close to a majority.
Dolton is so screwed up, the mayor, the school board. Wow
This is nothing more that shameless theft; there’s no two ways about it. It’s destroying society.
How is it theft? The school board was elected by the local voters and that board agreed to that salary. That elected board decided that after his current contract he was so valuable that they needed to increase his contract for even more money. Is this a fair contract? If not, the voters have the ability to choose different board members that will be more fiscally responsible in the future. If they don’t choose those candidates then they are overall happy with the boards decision making and you can expect more of the same. Voter apathy and lack of engagement… Read more »
Here’s some info on Dolton. They have 1,968 students. Can you tell us what the duties and responsibilities that the super has to earn over $500K per year? What does he do during a 9 month school year? It would be good to get a list from the time he arrives to when he leaves. The curriculum is set before the school year so what changes during the year? Would appreciate your insight. Thanks.
P.S. Rockford school district 205 has 28,000 students or 14 times that of Dolton yet the super makes approx $250K.
https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/District.aspx?source=admins&Districtid=07016148002
I tried to be an educated voter for school board in my school district. It’s very difficult to find out who the candidates even are, let alone, what their qualifications are. I live in Belvidere CUSD 100, where there are 2 candidates on the ballot and 4 write-ins. I agree that voter apathy and lack of engagement is allowing anyone, qualified or not, to run for these important positions. These candidates seem to rely on people not showing up to vote.
They make the elections difficult and non-partisan on purpose. The progressives get funding (from who knows where) and form slates to take over all the public offices. My local school board is about to go from three to seven full blown nutjob progressives running as a slate, with plenty of money for advertising around town. I have no idea who is paying for all those glossy flyers and yard signs for a small school board but they’re throwing big money into this slate. Elections have got nothing to do with knocking on doors or knowing the community, and everything about… Read more »
For the first time in years, I chose not to vote in Evanston’s April 1st elections this year. The school board candidates talk in platitudes, and Evanston is 95+ libtard anyways, so why bother voting for Mayor; my preferred local 4th Ward candidate is a write – in, so good luck with that! No change will ever come to Evanston while the dems are in charge, so I’m not interested in local politics; it’s like “voting” in the old commie USSR or East Germany, where there was only one “candidate” for each position…
Once again folks;
Don’t ever confuse a Democratic Party slush mechanism with education.
Vice president of the US annual salary – $235,000
President of the US annual salary – $400,000
Now you know why direct taxation is unconstitutional. The power to tax is the power to destroy.
It’s Dolton – #1 most corrupt in the state makes Chicago almost look honest.
I know very few care for they keep voting for Leftist Democrats, but here is some context: I worked for decades for 2 Fortune 50 companies. The span of control for a dept head would be 2000 – 4000 FTE’s. A VP would have over 5000 FTE’s upto 10,000 and P&L responsibility in the +$B’s. Why are middling public school employees being paid like surgeons!?!?!? What is going on in IL is legalized theft with these public employees. Now contrast this unwarranted largese to these ‘superintendents’ with working class and elderly homeowners trying desperately to make ends meet and remain… Read more »
This is pathetic. No job in ANY stupid school district is worth this money. This is why Illinois pensions are broke and unsustainable. Pure grifting by the staff and absolute stupidity by the elected board members. These numbers are staggering.
Just heard on the news that Rockford’s super is stepping down after his contract is over in 2026.
https://www.rps205.com/article/1848691
Here is some info. 97% of teachers are rated proficient or excellent and only 20% of students in algebra are passing in eight grade. Close to $250M was invested in new schools over the last decade and many still cannot read-write or do math at grade level yet are passed on. Not totally blaming teachers but Common Core does not help.
https://www.illinoisreportcard.com/district.aspx?source=trends&Districtid=04101205025
If you count their pension money, they numbers go off the charts. No one can afford these numbers. Illinois is destined to be the highest tax state for generations to come.
They are all Laughing all the way to the Bank.
A quick scan of the age of the retirees, which hovers around 55 clearly shows why Illinois is bankrupt. Paying someone $300K for 30+ years after their retirement is the reason corporations have eliminated these legacy costs, as they can’t cover these pension costs and normal operating costs. Why do taxpayers owe these people a lifetime of overpayments for covid lockouts, low test performance, pushing liberal ideology, and holding school board meetings where parents are locked out, not allowed to speak or ignored? The greed and gluttony in Illinois education is unfathomable.
The net contributions have little or nothing to do with their future pensions. The average of the 4 out of the last 10 highest earning years will determine what the pension is. So Nohelty’s $450K base salary or his $537K total plus his 3 other highest earning years is what will be calculated. Most likely the contributions will go into the pension fund and will help pay for current retirees even though it is based on his salary. Future supers contributions will help pay Nohelty’s pension. What exactly are the daily responsibilities of a super especially in small districts of… Read more »