District 300 classes began the new school year without a new contract to replace last year's one-year pact with no overall salary increases. Even with a State Board of Education mediator brought in last month, there still isn't one. Hanetho called the latest negotiations Tuesday "non-productive."
Miller's unexpected statement came at the end of a largely ho-hum Board session. Devoid of specifics, it nevertheless sounded an ominous tone. "We remember the difficulty of making cuts, the costs of borrowing, the struggle to pay bills and the cutting of staff," said Miller describing hour the District climbed out of a $28 million hole.
This year's budget, just passed, projects a $1 million surplus but it assumes another year of no teachers' salary increases. "We are hoping to avoid cuts in staff or programs," said Miller, adding, " We would like to keep all of our schools open." That marked the first time even the possibility of closing District schools has surfaced.
D300 posted a copy of Miller's statement to its website this morning, as well a video clip of her delivering it suggesting it contained some sort of important message. The clip's located here: http://youtu.be/fLbiguOTQVY
"Bargaining is compromise on both sides," said Hanetho this morning. "They're looking for concessions only," she said. Comments from from Board and union negotiators indicate class sizes may be the thorniest issue but there appears to be conflict over what teachers think is too many administrators, too.
Another bargaining session's scheduled for Tuesday but Hanetho said LEAD 300 will hold an all-member meeting Sunday to give teachers an update on contract talks and ask what teachers want to do about it.
Coincidentally, the Board earlier Wednesday approved posting a list of District 300 teachers' and administrators' salaries. It's located here:
http://www.boarddocs.com/il/d300/Board.nsf/files/8YQQDS688813/$file/2012%20SalaryAndBenefitsData%2010%201%202012%20Upload%20%282%29.pdf
7 comments:
Residents, get out your wallets.
Don't warn, DO!!!!
agree with the post to stand firm. the teachers' demands have pushed families into foreclosures and kids graduated unprepared by lazy undeserving teachers. Let the teachers see how it feels to be ignored, and out of work.
When you use this link and see what teacher salaries and benefits are you have to wonder, HOW CAN THEY AFFORD FOOD!
I don't see how the teachers on a $120,000 yearly salary have trouble paying for food...
My property tax bill is already half of my mortgage payment! When is enough enough? If the government can't live off a fixed percentage of income and needs to continuously raise the percentage, they are doing something wrong. As values increase, the dollars they receive increase. The system is BROKEN!
Nice plan, scapegoat teachers and sell-out the future in the name of greed. "I got mine and will pull up the (socioeconomic) ladder behind me." This attitude is rampant among the teapublicans. To them I ask "Why do you hate America, the land of opportunity"?
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