D46 Turns to Mediator
- on 11.26.05
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I know I’m behind on this story. Things have been hectic lately. I have been trying to get more information about the negotiations, but neither side can talk about them still. From this article it leads me to believe the negotiations are not going as well as either side would like. I am hoping things can be fixed, but I am afraid we are heading toward a showdown after Christmas Break. I really want to be wrong about this, because it will not be in the best interests of the kids for a teacher strike to occur. I do not want this to send a message to the board to cave to the teacher unions’ demands. It is the opposite. The teachers all know what the financial status of the District is. They have been told over and over again of the upcoming deficits. The board cannot give what they do not have nor should they. Four referendums have already failed and another is not likely to pass in the spring if it is attempted.
Board, please stand firm. You do not have the money to give.
Teachers, please do what is best for the kids of this District; settle this agreement reasonably for the kids.
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By Mike Riopell The Grayslake Elementary District 46 administration and its teacher union have agreed to ask a federal mediator to help them reach a deal on a new contract for the district’s teachers, Superintendent Ellen Correll said. She said the negotiations remain positive but both parties want the process to move faster. The contract expired at the end of last school year, but teachers continue to work under the old terms. Should a new deal be reached, any raise in salary could be awarded to compensate for the time teachers already have worked this year. Correll said that no goal date had been set to finish negotiations. “Obviously, that’s why we’re going into mediation,†she said. Grayslake Federation of Teachers President Diane Elfering, a third-grade teacher at Prairieview School, was not available for comment. The district’s teachers found out about the decision Monday during a teacher in-service day, but the agreement was made last week during negotiations, Correll said. The openness of the negotiations has discouraged strike talks so far, she said, but it also has encouraged lots of discussion, delaying the process. Correll said the mediator, who will start after Thanksgiving, will work at no cost to the district because both sides agreed to seek help. Under the current contract, a teacher with a bachelor’s degree started last year with an annual salary of $32,270. |
[...] The Daily Herald is reporting the District 46 Board and Teachers Union have finally reached a tentative contract agreement. The the sides conducted and all night negotiation session on Thursday night. The sides had already turned to mediation before Thanskgiving to hopefully speed up the process. [...]