District 112 Teachers Set Strike Date for Oct. 16

Still unable to come to an agreement with the school board for its contracts, the District 112 teachers' union has set a strike date of Oct. 16.

District 112 Contract Negotiations: The Story So Far 

The board and the North Shore Education Association (NSEA) met on Oct. 4 for five hours to try and reach an agreement. The teachers have been working without contracts since August. 

"At the opening of the Oct. 4 mediation session, the Board presented an improved economic proposal that kept within its guiding principles of maintaining a balanced budget," wrote District 112 Board President Bruce Hyman in a letter posted on District 112's website. 

The board's new proposal "showed movement on key issues,  including increased compensation, professional growth payments (lane movement) and a pro-rated formula for Board-paid insurance for part-time teachers," according to Hyman.

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The movement, however, was not enough for the teachers. The contract is still inferior to those offered to teachers in surrounding districts, according to the NSEA. 

"If the NSEA were to accept the board’s proposal, it would seriously compromise the quality of the district," a statement on the NSEA's website reads.

Another bargaining date is set for Oct. 10. Both the school board and NSEA have expressed hope in reaching an agreement then.

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