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Smith’s contract to be renegotiated

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“So far, AFSCME has demanded a very big pay hike, pension benefits, health improvements, tough work rules,” Rauner said. “They have not made any concessions. We’ve compromised off of our initial proposals. So we’re stuck.”

* But check out what Dane Placko found when he looked at state school superintendent Tony Smith’s own employment contract…

The three and a half year deal starts at $225-thousand dollars, with three-percent raises each year.

Smith gets 35 days’ vacation, which is seven full weeks, but can bank 20 of those days each year and cash them in when he leaves. […]

And while all state employees are required to pay for part of their health insurance and pension, the Board agreed to pick up Smith’s employee contribution for both, a perk worth thousands of dollars a year.

Not to mention that sweet little deal that makes up for the loss of retirement income for being in the Tier Two pension system.

* The governor’s office denied all knowledge of Smith’s contract, and Rauner’s hand-picked school board chairman James Meeks is reluctantly backtracking…

“We’ll renegotiate (the contract), but it may end up costing us more money…I think it’s all much ado about nothing. The general assembly is bored. They should be more focused on getting a budget.”

posted by Rich Miller
Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:17 am

Comments

WOW. Word of the day: hypocrite. Let’s remember, this is one of many, many overpriced deals for senior level Rauner execs.

Comment by Chicago Cynic Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:20 am
==So far, AFSCME has demanded . . . pension benefits==

What? I’m not sure what he is talking about here. I’ve not seen any demands for any change to pension benefits by the union.

==I think it’s all much ado about nothing. ==

How much more clueless can you be.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:20 am
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.

Comment by Gruntled University Employee Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:20 am
Rauner fully exemplifies the corporate and Marie Antoinette mentality.

Comment by Federalist Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:24 am
Simple solution for Washington and Springfield: Legislators, judges and top executive officers get no better benefits than clerical workers and agency staff. So they should have the same pension system and formula; the same health insurance; and no automatic COLA for high paid elected or appointed officials if the same is not offered to rank and file employees and unions. There should be transparency to assure that it is happening. Basic equality on all benefits and terms and conditions.
That leaves only the question of an appropriate salary. On that, let the Governor justify whatever he offers.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:25 am
Sacrifice isn’t for superstars, silly! /s

Comment by AC Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:25 am
But he’s a superstar!

Comment by Flynn's Mom Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:26 am
And of course, Rauner’s office refuses to own it.

Comment by Tournaround Agenda Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:27 am
Way to tow the company line, Meeks. It’s not your fault for approving such a tone-deaf contract, it’s the GA’s fault for finding it.

Comment by Nope, Nope, Nope Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:27 am
I love the grin on the guy’s face in the pictures that accompany these stories. Heck, I’d be grinning ear to ear too with a deal like that.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:28 am
bump bump!! The Rauner mobile running over the Rev..

Comment by Not Rich Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:30 am
Rauner is either ignorant of the negotiations or is a liar. AFSCME should offer to open up the negotiations to the public so everyone can see who is telling the truth. In the past, negotiations have always been kept secret because negotiating in public makes things very difficult. In this case, though, Rauner has already made it public and has totally mischaracterized AFSCME’s position.

Comment by Pelonski Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:31 am
State school superintendent and other management might be compensated a little differently from the rank-and-file at most jobs.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:32 am
It’s just taxpayers dollars at work…it’s just money…Who cares?

Superstars deserve super salaries…because they are Stars…it’s easy to see…what’s going on.

Comment by Anonymous Redux Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:33 am
He must be a super star….they and they alone are worth the money.

Comment by Facts are Stubborn Things Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:33 am
“Anonymous” REALLY? the Gov tells everyone the that tier 2 is the only way to save the state, but he exempts HIS GUY from the tier 2 conditions??? you can’t be serious??

Comment by Not Rich Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:36 am
I suspect AFSCME is holding out for a veto override of the arbitrator bill. If that fails, (which is what Rauner’s pledge not to lock out is all about) then I suspect we will see AFSCME start to pivot and make some concessions and we will eventually get darn close to the teamster’s deal at the end of the day. Both sides have a lot of “throw away” items and I think it will come down to holding the line on salaries in exchange for holding the line on health care. The wild card is whether or not Rauner really wants a strike and will keep a poison pill or two on the table and declare an impasse.

Comment by Facts are Stubborn Things Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:37 am
How much does Meeks get paid? What does his benefit package look like?

Comment by Mama Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:37 am
It is astounding that a manager receives more compensation than the people they manage.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:39 am
171 layoffs while Rauner gives sweet deal to his guy. No more sweet deals I thought, time to do things different around hear. I guess different means sweet deals to a different group of people.

Comment by Facts are Stubborn Things Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:40 am
If the union’s bargaining for a pay raise its probably in response to the 500% healthcare increase the gov is demanding.

Comment by Jeep Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:41 am
If the school board tries to change his contract Smith will probably start legal action against them. They can’t even get rid of him without it costing a couple million at least. Meeks can bluster about the “bored GA” and Rauner can pretend he knew nothing about this, but they’ll do nothing. Smith will keep his superstar contract.

Comment by Wensicia Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:41 am
“State school superintendent and other management might be compensated a little differently from the rank-and-file at most jobs.”

I think his situation fits with the times. Those at the top get more & more for years while the rest of us are accused of being greedy and that we must learn to sacrifice more.

Comment by Qui Tam Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:42 am
Better late than never for TeamBungle…now you can get the Comptroller to admit if her office got any health care savin’ or will continue fair share collections.
All will recall TeamBungle goin’ to federal court to stop fair share and boasted of plans to take $800 million in health care services away from workers. Guessin’ TeamB will claim not to know the details of the Comptroller handiwork.

Comment by Anonin' Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:42 am
==It is astounding that a manager receives more compensation than the people they manage.==

Are you really that clueless to the situation? You are seriously defending this. C’mon.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:42 am
==How much does Meeks get paid? What does his benefit package look like?==

Members aren’t paid. They get expenses. That’s it.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:43 am
Here’s the issue I have with all of this.

Governor Rauner promised to bring “Superstars” to Illinois to help get the state back on track. The trouble is that it appears that the “Superstars” have been relegated to a back seat for the past seven months of this administration. We’ve experienced very limited engagement by cabinet members - the administration seems run everything from the Deputy Chief of Staff level and prefers engagement by press release and the occasional audience granted to reporters by the Governor. Maybe its due to a lack of reportable information, but I’m just not aware of cabinet activity in formulating proposals to get the most out of available revenues…proposals for policy recommendations on moving the state forward by strategically focusing on needed government services and eliminating those that have outlived their useful lives. Most of all, I just don’t see this administration doing anything to align government activities to take advantage of what it does well.

Pay “Superstars” what they’re worth…for what they bring to the table. But until I really see action from the “Superstars,” all of them are simply wasting time and state tax dollars.

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:44 am
It appears to me that Rauners real weakness are his so called “superstars.” Take SB1229 as an example. It appeared as though the veto would be golden no problem for Rauner however his “Superstars” have spent months belittling the ga members and encouraging the Gov to do the same. Suddenly MJM says he has the votes to override.

Comment by Mason born Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:46 am
So Rauner considers all current benefits as enhancements. Then proposes removing unconstitutional and unreasonable demands as concessions. Brilliant!!

Comment by Earl Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:51 am
– The governor’s office denied all knowledge of Smith’s contract…–

Is that a gag?

Believe it or not, management is a big part of the governor’s job. It’s not just a dorm-room debate club.

For crying out loud, we’ve got this guy, plus the Education Secretary squirrelled away on the DHS payroll.

Why both?

What would you say — they do here?

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:51 am
So this guy settled for a 12% raise over 4 years while AFSCME started with asking for an 11% over 4 years (comparing apples to apples ) but he’s reasonable AFSCME is evil?

7 weeks of vacation for first year -compared to 2 weeks for first year up to 5 weeks after 25 years

Fully paid health insurance - Compared to asking to keep 19% premium copay

I could go in, but you get the drift.

Comment by Thoughts Matter Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:52 am
Equally interesting was Bernie Schoenburg’s column this morning. Goldberg has repeatedly pointed to the Comptroller’s website for staff salaries. According to Schoenburg’s column, “the Comptroller’s records as of Wednesday showed Brian Schackmann making $93,648 annually at the state, but the administration of Gov. BRUCE RAUNER said Schackmann’s actual salary is $85,000 annually, and a DATA ENTRY ERROR in the payroll process resulted in a higher paycheck. The error is being corrected, and extra money paid is being recouped, the administration said.”

That would be a costly data entry error. $8,000 data entry error. One has to wonder if there are any other “data entry errors” occurring in the Governor’s office payroll?

Comment by 360 Degree TurnAround Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:53 am
Hello everybody! I’m back. I still know nothing!

Comment by Colonel Klink Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:54 am
Demoralized - Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:42 am, I think he is either being snarky or trying to make the point that a newly hired manager shouldn’t start with benefit levels hiring than any other newly employed person.

To the post, this is clearly another example of the do as I say, not as I do Rauner administration. Normally, we get the (B)ogus (S)tuff line about the person being a superstar staffer. It will be interesting if Smith takes an actual pay downgrade after moving with sweet compensation dreams. Or, the Gov gives him a VERY NICE Christmas present.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:57 am
I know I’m not very smart, but how can you qualify for a pension after only workin’ three years? I’m assumin’ this person will not be the next govoner’s choice.

Comment by Tha missin g Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:57 am
==It is astounding that a manager receives more compensation than the people they manage.==

Are you really that clueless to the situation? You are seriously defending this. C’mon.

Sometimes, I feel bad about skipping the comments left by people who can’t be bothered to use a nickname, but it’s almost always the best use of my time.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:59 am
Sgt. Schultz “knew nothing.”

But a very good point. Any time during the campaign when Rauner’s hinky business practices bit him, he was Sgt. Schultz.

And he’s definitely back, and here to stay, I imagine.

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:59 am
How would Meeks know anything about the General Assembly and if they are bored. He rarely showed up as a senator and he had his own plane to fly him to Springfield when needed.

Comment by Spliff Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:59 am
Bumbling (almost?) Billionaire Bruce seems to now have adopted the Sgt. Schultz response to his latest boondoggle: “I know nothing (or “nuthin”).

Comment by Hawkeye in Illinois Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 11:01 am
@ Slinger

You’re spot on!

The State Constitution spells out the State Superintendent’s role in having total responsibility for the K-12 system in the state. Now the Governor appoints a “Secretary” of Education, which in every other application denotes at least a statutory entity. Nonetheless, the Secretary of Education is on the Governor’s staff and not part of ISBE, ICCB or IBHE. Moreover, being paid from the DHS payroll is probably not the wisest method either.

So, who is running education in the state…the Constitutionally responsible Superintendent or the aggrandized gubernatorial staffer know as the Secretary of Education?

It can’t be both, and clearly both aren’t needed.

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 11:03 am
Sometimes I even forget that I am Sgt. Schultz.

Comment by Colonel Klink Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 11:05 am
This says to me-Meeks is inept. Another Democratic politician who controls large sums of taxpayer money and doesn’t have a clue about how to manage it for the benefit of taxpayers. Or care about managing it for the benefit of taxpayers. You can always raise taxes if you make a mistake. As the Democrats ardently hope they can soon do.

Rauner, the finance guy, should have known about this, no excuse there. If anybody knows how to negotiate a pay package, he should. Guess he like the tax the middle class option too. So easy, and doesn’t affect the wealthy much.

Comment by Cassandra Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 11:09 am
Just for comparison, does anyone know what the contract terms for the previous superintendent were? Are the current contract terms different?What were Koch’s raises, pension contributions, etc.? According to the salary web sites, Chris Koch’s salary went from $189,996 in 2011 to $215,650 in 2014.

Comment by Just Passing Through Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 11:15 am
Even the Tribbies called the Rauner administration out on this a few weeks ago. When your bought-and-paid-for editorial board doesn’t muster up an argument for your overpaid school superintendent, maybe it’s time to cut your losses and fix it.

Comment by Tournaround Agenda Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 11:17 am
Rauner said he’d run the state like a business. That’s what this contract reflects. Be careful what you ask for. You might get it. That’s the case here

Comment by Truthteller Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 11:18 am
I think a couple FOIA’s would show if Rauner or his staff had any knowledge or involvement in the contract.

Comment by Anonymous Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 11:22 am
Folks are only now realizing Meeks was a totally political and inappropriate appointment?

Comment by south side Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 11:26 am
-“So far, AFSCME has demanded a very big pay hike, pension benefits, health improvements, tough work rules,” Rauner said. “They have not made any concessions. We’ve compromised off of our initial proposals. So we’re stuck.”-

Rauner keeps bringing up the initial economic proposals when they haven’t even started negotiating the economic side of the contract yet. That will not change until they get to economics. They are still trying to get through the language side (work rules) of the negotiations and Rauner’s side is holding that up with unrealistic demands that AFSCME give up several very important union bargaining rights. This will not happen. AFSCME is not going to slit it’s own throat. AFSCME is asking that the current work rules remain in place. I have a feeling that if they ever do get to the financial side of things that they will start off with their initial proposal and then if they can engage Rauner’s side into negotiating they’ll quickly drop those numbers with an end game that will be to secure economics and benefits that are near what they currently have.

It doesn’t help negotiations when they are being drug through the media. This may help Rauner paint the union as ‘greedy’ but it doesn’t help negotiations. If anything, it gives an impression he’s trying to push the union toward a strike.

Comment by Bulldog58 Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 11:29 am
Maybe the new education “superstar” being paid out of another department’s budget, can help out here.

Comment by walker Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 11:29 am
“Members aren’t paid. They get expenses. That’s it.” Meeks is not just a member of the State Board of Education, he is the chairman of the board.
I’m sure Meek does whatever Rauner’s Superstars tell him to do (including Smith’s sweet deal).

Comment by Mama Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 11:34 am
Not that is matters because Smith is the current piñata but it is the ISBE staff that puts these contracts together granted they are approved by the board. Other then the tier 2 issue, is this contract at all different then the one given to Chris Koch?

Comment by Sue Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 11:37 am
I believe it is about time to give up all hope for the future of this State.

Comment by DuPage Moderate Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 11:41 am
Rauner statements on the negotiations are not believable. To Rauner, not agreeing to clawbacks is portrayed as new demands.

Comment by Norseman Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 11:43 am
The guy left the Oakland, CA school system under a cloud. He’s hardly a Superstar.

Comment by Stones Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 11:55 am
The nerve of AFSCME–to not give up benefits the ISC said they are entitled to. As is.

Comment by Langhorne Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 12:11 pm
=It is astounding that a manager receives more compensation than the people they manage.=

Welcome to the world. The salary is one thing, the perks are a different issue.

It is astounding that a governor who is going so hard to the post on the pension and health care issue for state and local government employees did the exact opposite with one of his new people. It is the epitome of hypocrisy.

I doubt the Governor ever seriously thought about the real meaning of the practice of “leading by example”. Maybe he think that because he has eschewed payment and pension that is meaningful. Most of us need the income from our jobs. His actions simply prove how far removed from the challenges of the everyday person he is.

Meeks appointment was an attempt at some street cred and the fact that they are likely aligned when it comes to charters and vouchers. Meeks was bought and paid for political cronyism. No better or worse than any other governor. Unless you decide to hold him accountable for his promises.

The Secretary of Education’s role is as chief education adviser to the governor. That is, by her own words, how she described her role to me and others recently. I believe the title is new but there have been others in a similar role in the past.They were not paid as much, but a similar role.

An interesting thought on Dr. Tony Smith, like Forrest Claypool, he is not licensed in general administration nor does he have a superintendents endorsement. When I searched the ELIS system, two people with his name show up. one as a paraprofessional (teacher’s aide) and one with no records.

I am not sure how he actually qualifies to be in TRS. There is probably a way but I have not discovered it, Forrest Claypool is the CEO of CPS and is not a member of the CTP. I would think it should work the same way for Tony Smith.

And, Rev. Meeks- how is renegotiation actually going to cost us more? I would think the frat boys/superstar team can figure out a way to SAVE money. After all, that is hwy you are here.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 12:12 pm
This is Criminal.

Comment by Ben Franklin Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 12:28 pm
==I am not sure how he actually qualifies to be in TRS. ==

Anyone who works at ISBE qualifies to be in TRS.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:07 pm
Not all ISBE employees are TRS. AFSCME employees at ISBE are SERS.

Comment by Double nickel Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:17 pm
sham a lama ding dong

Comment by Flynn's mom Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:21 pm
==Not all ISBE employees are TRS==

Apologies. I was non-union when I worked there. I was TRS.

Comment by Demoralized Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:24 pm
=Not all ISBE employees are TRS. AFSCME employees at ISBE are SERS.=

The State Supt is a TRS position. Whether or not you are in a union does not matter for TRS.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:33 pm
@Word- Support staff are not TRS positions, at least they are not anymore. TRS rules where changed wgen Cullerton et al “misremembered” the special legislation they passed for union leadership and a select group of others and closed the loopholes when all of the pension issue started becoming an issue after the last recession. Before then nobody really cared.

Comment by JS Mill Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 1:36 pm
@Demoralized - As I understand it, ISBE employees hired after a certain date (I think 1998; I’m not sure) automatically go to TRS. Employees hired before that date could be SERS or TRS. When the change was made, some employees had the option to switch; some did, some didn’t. I was told by staff that it didn’t matter if you were bargaining unit, merit comp, or exempt: later-hired employees went to TRS.

Then again, he could have been just telling a tale.

Comment by Just Passing Through Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 3:10 pm
Meeks is one of the most noteworthy education-related snake oil salesmen of the past 20 years; all bluster and no substance.

Comment by Buzzie Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 3:20 pm
Perhaps the ISBE union that has been without a contract for more than two years now can get a deal like Supt Smith. Maybe the ISBE board and Supt Smith can also look into all the bonuses and stipends doled out to ISBE management and exempt employees the last couple years as well.

Comment by Double nickel Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 3:48 pm
So we have Smith, Meeks, and the other superstar whose name I cant remember and who has a high-paying do-nothing job, and what…..?

What’s going on here?

Comment by Wordslinger Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 5:59 pm
JS Mill, wrong. The statute changed in the 90’s to fix a long-running problem at ISBE with “flexibility” in who went into what pension fund. The law says “anyone employed..as an executive” goes in TRS.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 6:30 pm
Pelonski, it’s beyond the pale for you to say that AFSCME normally keeps negotiations secret, especially if you actually believe it

Comment by steve schnorf Thursday, Aug 6, 15 @ 10:17 pm
Go Dana!

Comment by cez Friday, Aug 7, 15 @ 9:01 am
More of the same from the most inept and corrupt agency in the State. How many times does the media need to pick up on the egregious practice of awarding senior level management at the ISBE with lavish perks and outrageous cash bonuses until someone finally steps in and cleans this place up. If you believe that this is the first incident of its kind, you haven’t been paying attention.

The upshot of “we’ll renegotiate his contract” is that Smith will have grounds to sue, drag this thing into court and leave the taxpayers to pay for yet another frivolous lawsuit.

Sorry Bruce, the buck stops with you. Meeks was your pick, Smith was his and, likely, also yours. Fix it or own it.

Comment by Not Amused... Friday, Aug 7, 15 @ 9:27 am