D86 Negotiating Union Contract Without Disclosures: Letter

Editorial
By Ed Corcoran, Board Member District 86

The biggest Union contract in the history of D86 is being negotiated behind the scenes and without disclosures to the taxpayers. The Teacher’s Union contract for Hinsdale South and Central is approximately $50M/year. The Board majority led by Kay Gallo, Jennifer Planson, and Kathleen Hirsman appear reluctant to release all the information to the public. Monday night Gallo led the scuttle of a proposed transparency resolution aimed at release of Union contract information before the Board votes, despite legal counsel saying that D86 can release information.

Importantly and related, we also need removal of outdated work rules to reduce our spending and head count. Work rule reforms such as returning to 1 preparation period have significant long term impacts to control pension, benefits and salary costs.

Regarding conflict of interest, do voters know that Board President Kay Gallo and her team took campaign contributions from the teachers union? Do you know that Gallo appointed her friends Planson and Hirsman to negotiate with their friends, the teachers union? I know it is Illinois, but it’s just not right.

I voted against the contract 2 years ago when Gallo, Planson and two others gave the Union nearly all their wishes, including a 30%-100% subsidy for healthcare insurance for retirees and a 4% salary increase, without work rule reforms. As a result, for the first time, D86 charged a $250 technology fee to close the budget deficit.

Giving more money or more power to special interest groups has never made a student any smarter nor made our schools any better.