Construction strike slowing work at Batavia High School

Count Batavia public school officials among those intensely interested in the negotiations between two construction workers' unions and their employers.

Work has come to a halt on the expansion and renovation of Batavia High School, a project that just entered its third and final year.

Kris Monn, the district's assistant superintendent for business, said the delay likely won't affect the start of school.

But if the strike continues into next week, the district will make contingency plans for some of its physical education classes.

Most of the remaining construction is in the new physical education center and the auditorium, which aren't due to be finished until later this school year.

But other interior spaces are being renovated, including vocational and fitness classrooms and an existing gymnasium.

"We're watching closely but are not yet in any type of emergency state," Monn said.

The project started in the summer of 2008.

Workers are from the Laborers District Council of Chicago and Local 150 of the International Union of Operating Engineers. Workers at the Batavia site are mostly represented by the Laborers District Council, and they have been picketing the site.

In DuPage County, Naperville District 203 reached a side agreement with the unions that resulted in construction continuing on an expansion and renovation of Naperville Central High School, and DuPage High School District 88 officials are also trying to work out a similar deal for work on Addison Trail and Willowbrook high schools.

Monn said Batavia has not approached the unions about making a side agreement, but has talked to Lamp Construction, its general contractor, about the strike.

Contract negotiations are expected to resume Monday.