(The Center Square) – Illinois school districts are asking taxpayers for additional funding as some superintendents receive compensation approaching $600,000, prompting questions about whether districts are sufficiently scrutinizing administrative spending before seeking more money from taxpayers.
Ted Dabrowski, founder of Fight for Illinois, said superintendent compensation should be examined alongside student outcomes and overall district spending when taxpayers are asked to provide additional revenue.
“Why are we paying so much in the first place?” Dabrowski said. “We’ve moved beyond public service.”
Dabrowski pointed to Dolton Public School District 148, where former Superintendent Kevin Nohelty received approximately $530,000 in total compensation in 2025, according to public records.
The district has faced significant academic challenges. Dabrowski said approximately 19% of students in the district are proficient in reading.
The nearly $530,000 figure represents total compensation rather than just Nohelty’s base salary. The Center Square contacted Dolton Public School District 148 seeking comment and a breakdown of the compensation, including salary, benefits, pension contributions and any retirement-related payments, but the district did not immediately respond.
The Center Square also asked the district how superintendent compensation is determined, how administrative spending has changed in recent years and whether administrative compensation would be affected as the district considers its financial needs.
Dabrowski said superintendent compensation should be considered in the broader context of administrative spending and student performance.
“These salaries are crazy,” Dabrowski said. “That means those turn into big pensions.”
He argued that high administrative compensation can contribute to a broader cycle in which salaries and benefits increase across school district leadership.
“The problem is that all the districts are looking at that,” Dabrowski said. “And it creates this race to the top of higher and higher salaries.”
Dabrowski said taxpayers should consider whether administrative spending is justified before approving additional funding.
“I think we need to be looking at how much administrators and administrative bloat is sucking up money,” he said.
The issue comes as Illinois voters prepare to consider local tax and borrowing referendums, including measures involving school districts and other local governments.
Dabrowski said districts should examine potential spending reductions before asking residents for additional revenue.
“All that needs to be unwound before taxpayers are asked to pay for more, more, more taxes,” he said.
He also questioned whether superintendent salaries should exceed the compensation of top elected state officials.
The governor of Illinois has an annual salary of $205,000, according to the state.
“Should a superintendent make more than the governor?” Dabrowski said. “Probably not.”
Dabrowski said taxpayers evaluating superintendent compensation should also consider student outcomes and spending levels in other states.
He cited Indiana as an example, saying the state spends less per student while achieving education outcomes that he argued are not worse than Illinois.
“We need to look at that whole combination of issues,” Dabrowski said.
Following Nohelty’s departure, Dolton West Elementary School District 148 approved a contract for an interim superintendent at $1,500 per day, according to reporting by the Daily Southtown. The district later listed Dr. Sheila Harrison-Williams and Dr. Mable Alfred as interim superintendents on its website.
