IHSA chief: Compensation report ‘ridiculous’

Posted on June 9, 2015

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – Illinois High School Association executive director Marty Hickman has taken issue with a Chicago Sun-Times report, which details a 24 percent rise in compensation he received during the 2013-24 school year.

“That is not money that I received,” said Hickman. “That’s the problem with this – people read the headline and go ‘Oh my God, the guy got a 24 percent increase in compensation. That’s ridiculous.”

PODCAST: Listen to Scott and Colleen on WJBC.

Hickman told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin the increase is tied entirely to ‘deferred compensation’ while his base pay actually decreased.

“It won’t pay me out a nickel if I don’t live long enough,” Hickman said.

Hickman said the Sun-Times seems to have a vendetta against the IHSA. The paper did report the IHSA cut salaries and benefits 20 percent in the 2013-14 school year.

The newspaper report based on IRS filings show seven IHSA administrators received six-figure salary and compensation packages during the 2013-14 school year. The Sun-Times started looking into the IHSA’s finances after a Chicago lawmaker suggested the state should have more oversight of the privately-run group.

Hickman plans to retire in January, 2016.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…