Center Cass Officials' Pay Higher Than Average

DARIEN, IL – Administrators in Center Cass School District 66 make more money than the state and DuPage County averages.

The district, which includes parts of Darien and Downers Grove, presented this information in a recent newsletter to residents.

In 2021, the average Center Cass administrator salary was $135,964, higher than the state's $114,670 and the county's $128,662. The trend has persisted for years.

At the same time, the statistics show the district employs fewer administrators per student. In 2021, Center Cass had one administrator for every 183 students, compared with one for every 157 statewide and 147 in the county.

"We have high-quality administrators who wear several hats and work tirelessly to ensure students are safe and learning," Superintendent Andrew Wise said in a statement to Patch.

The district also provided numbers showing that teacher salaries are higher in Center Cass than the average of other elementary districts in DuPage County.

According to four-year averages, the pay for a Center Cass teacher is $75,917, higher than the county's $72,462.

The four-year averages indicate that 75 percent of Center Cass teachers hold advanced degrees, compared with 68 percent for the county's elementary districts.

The district's teacher retention rates are higher as well. Each year, the district keeps 91 percent of its teachers, compared with 88 percent countywide, according to four-year averages.

Teachers with advanced degrees and more years of service make more money.

"D66 is blessed to have caring and invested teachers who build lasting relationships with students and families," Wise said. "I couldn't be more proud of the effort that all of our employees provide our students, families, and community."

On June 28, Center Cass voters are set to decide whether to approve a nearly 25 percent increase in the district's property taxes.

In an interview, Jerry McDonald, who served on the school board in the 1990s, declined to say how he would vote.

But he said he found the teacher and administrator salaries concerning. He said the argument for keeping salaries high is that teachers would leave.

"But where is the teacher going to go?" he said.

He said the district is looking to hire three more employees.

"We have to stay within our means," he said. "Some people are on fixed incomes, and this is going to be anywhere from $600 to $1,000 for a lot of people. That's a big chunk."

As for salaries, he said, "It's nice to say yes. Sometimes you have to say no, and it's no fun."

On Friday morning, after this story appeared, Tom Tiede, the district's director of transportation, criticized the coverage on Facebook.

"Some more high quality (insert sarcasm) reporting, including earth-shattering quotes, facts and a 6-year-old photo of a since renovated building by the Patch," he said.

Patch has left a message for comment with Tiede.