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School continues as District 94 negotiates teachers contract

Second semester is well under way at West Chicago Community High School. Students are engaged in myriad learning experiences taking place throughout the building.

Contract bargaining continues between the Community High School District 94 school board and the West Chicago High School Teachers' Association toward a new contract agreement.

After a one-year extension to the 2013-16 agreement was approved by both parties in May, 2016, negotiations have been taking place between the board and the association.

Bargaining sessions have been taking place with a federal mediator in attendance since early November. Impasse was declared by the teachers association on Jan. 10, which started the clock ticking toward the required public posting of the most recent proposals of each party on the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board's website. You can view the proposals by both parties submitted on Jan. 17 at d94.org/negotiations.

Since that time, bargaining has continued; discussions are taking place and proposals are being exchanged. The next scheduled meeting is Wednesday, Feb. 7.

On Friday, Jan. 26, the teachers association voted to authorize a strike. The association must give a formal 10-day notice to strike before any strike action can take place. In the meantime, teaching and learning continue at West Chicago Community High School.

I sincerely value our faculty and support staff and the positive impact they have on our students. I remain hopeful that a contract resolution will occur in a timely manner so as not to impact our students or community any further.

• Doug Domeracki is superintendent of Community High School District 94 in West Chicago. During the school year, his column appears monthly in Neighbor.

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