Because the teachers have not been working on an agreed contract since July 1st, the teachers are within their rights to protest since nothing legally restrains them from doing so.

However, many recommend that action should not be taken considering that would anger taxpayers, who are already angry at the request of a raise in salaries.

Knowing that all four schools included in the district, Crystal Lake South, Crystal Lake Central, Prairie Ridge, and Cary-Grove High School, “spent $1.8 million more than the tax dollars it took in last fiscal year,” taxpayers resist to the idea that they’d have to pay more, especially when the subtle risk of the teachers being on strike threatens.

The total amount the district had in the bank the last year an official contract existed approximated at 76 million dollars, with 39 million designated for issues relating to the students and paying teachers and coaches.

Those fund records anger taxpayers who argue that the district should not receive more money.

    Besides that, the teachers are also asking for a raise in their salaries, which would be nearly impossible to grant considering that “even a 1 percent increase could cause a $300,000 deficit,” according to the Northwest Herald.

The average single-worker family in Crystal Lake generates about 77,000 dollars, which is 20,000 dollars off from what the teachers earn.

In defense, taxpayers should not have to pay more than the incredible amount they already do. Taxpayers are as within their rights to keep their money as teachers are to ask for money. Ultimately, teachers’ salaries should remain the amount they are now, and all should learn to accept it for the benefit of the community.

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For more information:

Board of Education’s negotiations website

District 155 Education Association negotiations website