District 300, union conclude negotiation talks

Leaders of Community Unit District 300 have finished negotiations with the district's teachers union over measures that could save millions next year, union President Kolleen Hanetho said.

The talks began about two months ago as the district, coping with delayed state payments and expected cuts in state funding, worked to slash $15 million from next year's budget, officials said.

For the district, which has already laid off more than 100 teachers, the negotiations were the last chance to reach that goal.

While people close to the negations would not discuss the specifics of the agreement that had been reached, district officials said they will fall short of the $15 million goal.

"If we go back to the $15 million number, I do not believe we will reach that goal, but I am hopeful that we can get close to it," board President Joe Stevens said.

The district announced a month ago that it had reached tentative agreements with its unions that would save an estimated $1.1 million. This week, Hanetho said that amount is what would be saved by changes to the district's insurance plans.

The district also is seeking to eliminate overtime, reduce the cost of paying teachers to supervise lunchrooms and stop paying teachers extra when they have more than a set number of students in their class.

The last concession could save the district an estimated $2.5 million. Hanetho had said earlier that asking the union to waive the "overload" payments was unreasonable, but she would not say this week if the issue had been resolved.

Union leadership will present the agreement to their members next week, with teachers scheduled to vote on the deal the following week, Hanetho said.

If teachers back the agreement, the board could vote on the items, as well as an additional round of layoffs that would affect support staff, on June 14.