Center Cass Teachers Get Raises

DARIEN, IL – Teachers are getting raises in Center Cass District 66 in the wake of the voters' passage of a property tax increase.

Last month, the board approved a 2 percent raise for teachers this school year, 2.5 percent for 2023-24 and 3 percent for 2024-25. Longevity increases amount to 3.5 percent.

The raises were part of a three-year contract with the teachers union. The school board unanimously approved it.

In November, voters approved a nearly 20 percent increase to the Center Cass part of their property tax bills. The measure prevailed with 50.2 percent of the vote, a margin of 29 votes.

For a $300,000 house, the tax bill would rise to $2,346, from $1,969, according to the district.

Financially, the union, the Center Cass Education Association, dominated the campaign for the tax increase, giving $95,000.

In Center Cass, the average teacher salary is $82,534, compared with the statewide average of $72,316, according to the Illinois Report Card website. Suburban teacher salaries are typically higher than the state's average.

Center Cass' average salary is also higher than most districts in the area.

Here are the average salaries for teachers in nearby elementary school districts:

Source: Illinois Report Card