Huntley School Board Aims Flame Thrower at Teachers’ Union

In a press release covering negotiating sessions ending more than two weeks ago, the Huntley District 158 School Board dropped blockbuster bombs on the Huntley Education Association.

The board put the cost of the proposed HEA union demands at 35%!

I think that’s worth an exclamation point, don’t you?

In my first article, I was a piker. I only got as high as 22%.

The Northwest Herald printed what the teachers wanted it to publicize–7%–which the Daily Herald estimated just over 10%.

The school board also included this statement, which is obviously intended to inflame editorial writers at the NW Herald and the Daily Herald:

“The HEA brought up recent editorials in local newspapers. The HEA team told the Board that the Northwest Herald and Daily Herald editors would not be in the classroom teaching the children come August in the event of a strike.”

The NW Herald took the teachers’ union to the woodshed, while the Daily Herald criticized the school board for offering too much (4.25% the first year, plus 0.25% more than the increase in the cost of living for the next three years).

The school board also “objected to the HEA proposal to reduce student time for HEA representatives…for 50 paid days off each year for union and political activity.”

In addition, the board criticized the proposal’s request to limit grade school student contact time to 4.5 hours per day.

The entire press release appears below:

Consolidated School District 158
Board of Education

Negotiation sessions
April 28th – May 12th

The Huntley Education Association (HEA) and The CSD 158 Board of Education (Board) continued to meet weekly to develop a new collective bargaining agreement.

The Board is issuing this statement in compliance with Bargaining Procedure #14 which states, “…The semimonthly press release shall contain a synopsis of the negotiation meetings and the main discussion points.”

The Board and the HEA agreed to separate contract issues into “economic” and “non-economic” categories. The Board and HEA exchanged counter proposals on the “non-economic” items, but to date no items have been tentatively agreed upon.

As of the close of the May 12th negotiating session the HEA had not made any changes to their original “economic” proposal, which the Board determined would increase compensation and benefit costs to the District in excess of 35%. The Board requested during each session that the HEA provide a revised economic proposal that is “reasonable”, so negotiations for compensation and benefits can begin. The HEA stated they believed their proposal was reasonable. The Board reiterated to the HEA that the Board is committed to an agreement that does not require deficit spending.

The Board objected to the HEA proposal to reduce student contact time for HEA representatives. As proposed, the reduction in student contact time for the HEA representatives would include 50 paid days off each year for union and political activity. The Board cited concerns over taxpayers funding this activity, and students
spending so much time without their primary teacher. The Board also objected to the HEA proposed language limiting student contact time at the Elementary level to 270 minutes (4.5 hours) per day.

The HEA brought up recent editorials in local newspapers. The HEA team told the Board that the Northwest Herald and Daily Herald editors would not be in the classroom teaching the children come August in the event of a strike.

The Board and the HEA each pointed out what they believed to be violations of Bargaining Procedures by the other side. On May 6th the HEA requested, and the Board agreed, to seek the assistance of a federal mediator.

The Board reminded the HEA of Bargaining Procedure #14 which states, “Unless the parties request mediation, the parties will refrain from talking about negotiation details to the public or press…” The Board and the HEA agreed to continue meeting while awaiting mediation.

The next press release will be issued after the June 2nd session (no negotiations were scheduled for Monday, May 26th due to Memorial Day).

The picture at the top shows newly-hired Superintendent John Burkey explaining to Huntley Education Association leaders why their contract would not be approved that night.


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *