Dist. 15 holds arbitration hearing Thursday on late start/early release

An arbitration hearing on the late start/early release issue in Palatine Township Elementary District 15 will take place at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Joseph M. Kiszka Education Center, 580 N. First Bank Drive, Palatine. The board supports releasing students early on Fridays to allow for weekly professional development time, which a survey showed is the option favored by most parents. The Classroom Teachers’ Council responded with a labor grievance claiming the district and board violated the union’s contract, which called for a late start option to accommodate training time unless there was “overwhelming opposition by parents.” The hearing is closed, but parents who support early release plan to show up early with signs. The independent arbitrator’s ruling isn’t expected until late September, so the schedule changes won’t be implemented until January.