These Elmhurst D205 Teachers Getting Big Raises

ELMHURST, IL – Nineteen Elmhurst School District 205 teachers are in line for 6 percent raises annually for the next four years.

The teachers notified the district of their intention to retire at the end of the 2027-28 school year. The deadline to do so was last Thursday.

With this notice, the teachers are entitled to the 6 percent raises under the teachers union contract.

Here are the teachers retiring in 2028:

• Christina Alvarado
• Valerie Baxter
• Kelly Begani
• Caroline Branick
• Therese Cohen
• Janet Costello
• Joanne Herman
• Patricia Jirout
• Rebecca Keller
• Charles Kern
• William Lech
• Katherine McDonough
• Catherine Moran
• Tracy Morser
• Julia Nichols
• Vasilika Rraklli
• Jennifer Sellers
• James Tang
• Konstantina Weeks

Last year, 13 signed up for the retirement incentive, with plans to leave at the end of the 2026-27 school year.

In Illinois, the last four years are crucial for determining the amount of pensions. Critics call the end-of-career raises "pension spiking."

The state pays the employer portion of teacher pensions, so local districts don't feel the direct effect of giving end-of-career raises.

Some suggest shifting the employer's cost of pensions to local districts, so they can be held accountable for their salary decisions.

Many teachers union contracts in Illinois feature annual 6 percent end-of-career raises.