D218 Calls Special Meeting Over Teacher Contract Negotiations

Teachers in have a contract that is set to expire on Aug. 20 and rounds of negotiations have failed to produce an agreement both sides are willing to accept. 

The D218 Board of Education has called a special emergency meeting for Tuesday, Aug. 7 at 6:30 p.m at the district's in Oak Lawn. The only item on the agenda is the teacher contract.

The board will likely spend most of the meeting in closed session with possible action set to occur.

Last week, Superintendent Dr. John Byrne outlined the boards arguments against the terms currently proposed by the teachers' union.  

As with most negotiations, salary and health care costs are the sticking points. The last offers had the district proposing salary increases of 2.5 percent a year for four years. The teachers' terms would result in raises totaling 15.44 percent over four years, Byrne said. 

Both sides are confident that school for the district's will start on time. 

UPDATE: Byrne says that Tuesday's meeting will likely result only in the board giving the administration direction and authority to continue with the process.

The vibe he has received from teachers is that all parties want school to start as scheduled, Byrne said.  

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