In Chicago that means that after the lavish benefits packages teachers reap by threat of strike and the six figure incomes administrators take for poor management that the resources actually allotted to students is fairly limited.

aaaaaaaaaaaand commenter William lost me right here. Unless he seems to think trying to find a home in a nice neighborhood with a yard in Chicago per residency requirements on 56K and a TRS system that is in failure a lavish benefit package. Especially if you have to dip into your own funds if you want your students to have pens, pencils, paper etc. since they aren't buying it themselves and the school isn't supplying that. Yeah, he can bite me.