Ex-LTHS Leader Collects Millions In Retirement

LA GRANGE, IL – Dennis Kelly retired in 2009 as the superintendent of Lyons Township High School. Since then, he has collected nearly $3.7 million in pension payments.

Recently, Patch published a story about the pension for the former superintendent of Burr Ridge School District 180, who retired in June.

It is a district where the overwhelming majority of students come from low-income families. At the same time, the former superintendent made the most money among area superintendents surveyed when he retired, while heading the smallest district.

Through a public records request, Patch obtained information on the pensions for Lyons Township High School's Kelly and his successor, Timothy Kilrea.

At 62, Kelly retired after 32 years of service, contributing $367,902 to the pension system during that time.

His nearly $3.6 million in pension payments over the last 14 years is 10 times what he put in. To be sure, the pension system invests members' contributions, which grow over time.

Kelly, who served as superintendent for 17 years, now receives $318,420 a year from the Teachers Retirement System. Under state law, recipients get guaranteed 3 percent compounded increases every year.

Kelly left with a salary of $339,962, which would be $484,000 in 2023 dollars. His salary increased by $22,000 in his last four years, which is the period in which pension amounts are based.

Kilrea, who retired in 2021 at 56, has collected $537,169 in benefits in a little over two years. That exceeds the $442,820 in contributions he made over a 36-year career.

Kilrea's pension is now $257,832 a year. He retired with a salary of $369,343, seeing his pay go up by $50,000 in his last four years as superintendent.

Patch was able to reach Kelly for an interview.

He said his entire education career was 42 years, saying he worked in New Jersey and Michigan before coming to Illinois.

"I'm very grateful to the people of Lyons Township," he said.