D158, Teachers Call For Mediation On New Contract

With a week until classes resume, District 158 Board and Huntley Education Association teachers' union negotiators announced Tuesday they've called in a mediator to help reach a new contract.  Superintendent John Burkey said, "(Meetings) have been going fine; they just thought that an outside mediator will help."

A joint statement from the District and HEA said, "Although D158 teachers will be starting the year without a new contract, all parties remain committed to seeing this through without affecting the school year or students."  The District and union have been meeting throughout the summer on a new contract to replace the one that expired June 30.  Last year's contract froze collective teaching expenses although not individual salaries.

Adjacent District 300 and its union called for mediation two weeks ago.